Theyab Awana Ahmed Hussein Al Musabi, 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."
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 :fr:Lotfi Benzarti|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 Saleh 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.
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.
Senior squad
Theyab was called up for the senior squadfor 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 reacted 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 onYouTube, and currently has over 2,800,000 views. The match ended 6–2 for the UAE.
Gulf Olympic Teams Cup 2010
Theyab played in the opening match against Saudi Arabia. He was substituted by midfielder Haboush Saleh 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. 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. 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. 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.
