Theyab Awana

Theyab Awana

Personal information
Full name	Theyab Awana Ahmed Hussein Al Musabi
Date of birth	(1990-04-08)8 April 1990
Place of birth	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Date of death	25 September 2011(2011-09-25) (aged 21)
Place of death	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Winger
Youth career
1999–2007	Baniyas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2011	Baniyas	37	(4)
Total		38	(4)
National team‡
2004–2007	United Arab Emirates (U-17)	12	(2)
2007–2009	United Arab Emirates (U-20)	47	(8)
2010–2011	United Arab Emirates (U-23)	8	(1)
2009–2011	United Arab Emirates	9	(2)
Honours Competitor for  United Arab Emirates Men's Football 2010 Asian Games Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 September 2011. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 September 2011

Theyab Awana Ahmed Hussein Al Musabi (Arabic: ذياب عوانة‎;‎ 8 April 1990 – 25 September 2011), commonly known as Theyab Awana or Awana Diab, was an Emirati footballer who played as a winger for Emirati Pro-League club Baniyas and the UAE national team. His playing style and ability drew comparisons to former Emirati international Zuhair Bakhit, who himself declared "Theyab Awana is my successor in the stadiums."^[1]

Club career

Baniyas

2009–10 season

Theyab started the season in great form, despite his return from the FIFA U-20 World Cup. On 17 October 2009, Coach Lotfi Benzarti surprised everyone that Theyab would be playing against Al Nasr. However, Theyab scored his first goal for the club in the match, and the first of the UAE Premier League, on 23 October 2009 against Al-Ahli Theyab played as the match ended in a 1–0 win for the Ban Yas. On 30 October 2009, he assisted two goal for Modibo Diarra, and scored his second goal of the Season against Al-Jazira on 6 November 2009 after rounding the defense and drilling the ball into the net with skill. The match was considered one of the best matches he ever played. on 24 November 2009 he played against Al Wahda in the UAE President Cup. However, Bani Yas lost 4–0 and were eliminated. On 30 November 2009 he play against Al-Shabab, and was playing a good game, but the coach replaced him at the end of the second half to be replaced by Haboush Salbukh because Theyab said felt tired and fatigued. On 5 December 2009 he played against Al Dhafra. He assisted one goal for André Senghor in the 2nd minute and the match ended 1–0. On 30 December he played against Al Ain FC in the Etisalat Emirates Cup, and scored a goal in the second half.

International career

FIFA U-20 World Cup

In the first match for the UAE U-20 national team in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Theyab played. While the team was left 2–0 down to South Africa within the first half, Theyab and the players did not surrender and in the first minute of stoppage time Hamdan Al Kamali converted a penalty to make the score 2–1. Then, just as it looked like they were still going to lose, in the third minute of stoppage time, Theyab scored from a cross from Ahmed Ali to snatch a last-minute equalizer for the UAE before the final whistle a few seconds later.^[2]

Senior Squad

Theyab was called up for the senior squad for the first time for the friendly match against Manchester City on 12 November 2009. He came in as a second-half substitute but did not impress. Despite this, he was still named in the squad the UAE International Cup 2009 on 16 December where they played against the Kuwait which was to be the farewell match for Kuwaiti player Ali Abd Redha. Theyab came on in the second half, but the match ended 0–0.

Penalty Incident

Theyab was brought to worldwide fame for the penalty kick scored with a back-heel in a friendly match against Lebanon on 17 July 2011. In the 78th minute, with the score at 5–2, a penalty was given to the UAE team, and Theyab was instructed to take it. Halfway through his path to the ball, he turned around and kicked the ball into the goal with his right heel. The coach reflected badly on the effort, and Theyab was immediately subbed off for the bad reception he received for the penalty. The incident was brought to prominence after a video of the effort was put on YouTube, and currently has over 2,700,000 views. The match ended 6–2 for the UAE.^[3]

Gulf Olympic Teams Cup 2010

Theyab played in the opening match against Saudi Arabia. He was substituted by midfielder Haboush Salbukh in the 78th minute. The match ended 1–0 for United Arab Emirates.

Death

Awana died on 25 September 2011 in a car accident in Abu Dhabi.^[4] According to reports, the accident happened at the Sheikh Zayed Bridge when he was returning to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain after the end of a training session for the national team. The report stated he was using his phone at the time of the accident. Awana died at the scene.^[5][6] Rumors appeared that stated that his brother was with him in the car during the time of the accident, and entered the intensive care unit before dying several hours later. However, Baniyas SC denied this rumor.^[7]

He was buried on Monday, 26 September 2011 immediately after the Asr prayer In the Baniyas graveyard in Shamkha, Abu Dhabi. He was only 21 years old.^[8]

Career Statistics

Club

As of 28 May 2011^[9][10][11]

International

As of 26 August 2011^[11]

Theyab Awana: International goals
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
U17
1.	17 November 2005	Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain	Syria	2–0	Win	2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification
2.	18 July 2006	Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, Abha	Kuwait	2–0	Win	2006 Under 17 Gulf Cup of Nations
U20
1.	24 October 2007	Thamir Stadium, Al-Salmiya	Kuwait	5–1	Win	AFC Youth Championship 2008 qualification
2.	8 November 2008	Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam	Saudi Arabia	0–1	Win	AFC Youth Championship 2008
3.	27 September 2009	Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria	South Africa	2–2	Draw	2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
U23
1.	11 November 2010	Yingdong Stadium, Guangzhou	Uzbekistan	3–0	Win	2010 Asian Games
UAE
1.	2 January 2011	Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain	Syria	2–0	Win	Friendly
2.	17 July 2011	Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain	Lebanon	6–2	Win	Friendly[12]
Source: Awana Goals

Honours

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Theyab Awana.

• Theyab Awana – FIFA competition record
• Theyab Awana info and goal scored at Goalzz.com
• Theyab Awana at ESPN FC
• Theyab Awana career statistics and photo gallery at worldfootball.net.
• Theyab Awana news, photo, topics, and quotes at daylife.com.
• Theyab Awana at football-lineups.com
• Theyab Awana profile at Soccerway
• Awana, Mancini, Zola: The Top Five most outrageous backheel goals

United Arab Emirates squads United Arab Emirates squad – 2011 AFC Asian Cup 1 Majed 2 Lashkari 3 M. Ahmed 4 Subait 5 Amer 6 Al Saadi 7 Al-Wehaibi (c) 8 Al-Kamali 9 Al-Shehhi 10 I.Matar 11 Khalil 12 Al-Tawila 13 Awana 14 Abbas 15 Al Hammadi 16 Mubarak 17 Jaber 18 Mousa 19 Al Kass 20 Al Kathiri 21 Khamees 22 Khasif 23 Omar Coach: Katanec