Theyab Awana

In this Arabic name, the surname is Al Messabi.

Theyab Awana Ahmed Husain Al Messabi (Arabic: ذياب عوانة أحمد حسين المصعبي; 8 April 1990 – 25 September 2011) was an Emirati professional footballer who played as a winger for UAE Pro League club Baniyas and the United Arab Emirates national team. His playing style and ability drew comparisons to former Emirati international Zuhair Bakhit.^[2]

Theyab Awana

Awana with Baniyas in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Theyab Awana Ahmed Husain Al Messabi[1]
Date of birth	(1990-04-08)8 April 1990
Place of birth	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates[1]
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)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
1999–2007	Baniyas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2011	Baniyas	62	(8)
Total		62	(8)
International career
2004–2007	United Arab Emirates U17
2007–2009	United Arab Emirates U20
2010–2011	United Arab Emirates U23
2009–2011	United Arab Emirates	9	(3)
Medal record Representing  United Arab Emirates Men's football Guangzhou 2010 Squad
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

International career

Youth

Theyab played for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first match of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup against South Africa.^[3] 2–0 down in the 90th minute of play, Hamdan Al Kamali converted a penalty to make the score 2–1 in the first minute of stoppage time; Theyab scored from a cross from Ahmed Ali to snatch a last-minute equaliser before the final whistle a few seconds later.^[3]

Senior

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. Theyab took the penalty and, 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 kick was put on YouTube, which currently has over 2,800,000 views.^[4] The match ended 6–2 for the UAE.^[5]

Death and legacy

Awana died on 25 September 2011, aged 21, in a car accident in Abu Dhabi.^[6] According to reports, his Audi Q7 SUV crashed on 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.^[7][8] Rumours surfaced that his brother was also with him in the car during the time of the accident and rushed into intensive care before dying several hours later. However, Baniyas Club denied this rumor.^[9]

He was buried on 26 September 2011, immediately after the Asr prayer, in the Baniyas Cemetery in Shamkha, Abu Dhabi.^[10] A month after Awana's death, the United Arab Emirates Football Association christened a newly-built stadium in Dubai the "Theyab Awana Stadium".^[11] A mosque in Kuwait was also named after him.^[12]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[13][14][15]

Club	Season	League			League Cup[a]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Baniyas	2007–08	UAE Division 2	10	0	—		10	0
	2008–09		15	3	—		15	3
	2009–10	UAE Pro League	19	3	—		19	3
	2010–11		18	2	1	0	19	2
Career total			62	8	1	0	63	8

1. Includes the UAE League Cup

International

National team[15]	Year	Apps	Goals
United Arab Emirates	2009	2	0
	2010	3	1
	2011	3	2
Total		8	3

Scores and results list the United Arab Emirates's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Awana goal.

List of international goals scored by Theyab Awana

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	7 September 2010	Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	Kuwait	1–0	3–0	Friendly	[16]
2	2 January 2011	Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	Syria	2–0	2–0	Friendly	[17]
3	17 July 2011	Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates	Lebanon	1–0	6–2	Friendly	[18]

Honours

Baniyas

• UAE Division 2 Group A: 2008–09

United Arab Emitates U17

• GCC U-17 Championship: 2006

United Arab Emirates U19

• AFC U-19 Championship: 2008

United Arab Emirates U23

• GCC U-23 Championship: 2010
• Asian Games silver medal: 2010