Abu Dhabi: Diab Awana, 21, one of the UAE’s most promising footballers died in a tragic car crash on Sunday night.
The UAE national team and Baniyas player Awana was in a car with his brother on their way to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain when the accident took place, according to sources.
The UAE national team is currently undergoing a camp in Al Ain and Awana was part of the squad though he did not train as he was injured.
Immensely talented, Awana was a member of the UAE under5-23 team that won the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Awana, known for his flamboyant style of play, hit world headlines for his ‘infamous’ back-heeled penalty goal for the UAE national team against Lebanon in an international friendly in July. He also played in the recent drawn fixture against Australia where he picked up an injury and was to travel abroad for treatment.
The highly-skilled Awana played a key role in Baniyas finishing as runners-up in the UAE Pro-League last season while he was also part of the UAE Under18 national team which won the 2008 AFC U-18 Cup in Dammam, Saudi Arabia which helped the UAE feature in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, where he once again sparkled to take the UAE to the quarterfinals.
His funeral is expected to be held on Monday.
