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Zeyab Awana passes away

Bani Yas international attacker Zeyab Awana has passed away on Sunday night after a horrible traffic accident on Shaikh Zayed Road in Abu Dhabi.

The 21-year-old has won with the UAE U-18 national team the 2008 AFC U-18 Cup in Dammam, Saudi Arabia and qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt and reached the last eight before being knocked out by less fancied Costa Rica in a heartbreaking last minute 2-1 defeat.

Thereafter, Awana was shortlisted for both the senior and Olympic national teams. He won with the boys in white the silver medal of the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Last month, Awana was punished by the outgoing Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec after scoring a penalty kick in a provocative manner against Lebanon in a friendly. But national coach Mahdi Ali shortlisted him for the Olympic squad and took part in the 2012 London Games qualifier against Australia which ended in a goalless draw last week. Newly appointed coach for the senior national team Abdulla Misfer brought him back to the squad and he was about to reunite with his colleagues to prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Korea in Seoul on October 11.

God blesses his sole and wholehearted condolences to his family, friends and fans.