CY@CY Says Welcome to my dreamscape. Where a Lim is also a Ling.
Awana Diab, the UAE footballer who became an internet sensation with a backheeled penalty, was killed in a car crash yesterday when travelling back from training.
Awana Diab
The 21-year-old midfielder shot to fame in July thanks to a cheeky spot-kick in his country’s 7-2 win over Lebanon.
He had only been on the pitch of the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium for three minutes, but his subsequent conversion from 12-yards blasted his name into the spotlight for other reasons. Stepping up to the penalty spot, Diab then proceeded to turn 180 degrees and back-heel the ball into the net.
Awana Diab executing his backheel penalty kick
Diab became an internet sensation overnight, quickly catapulted among the ranks of the other penalty-taking legends such Antonin Panenka.
Though he became an internet sensation, he also earned the unwanted epithet of football’s number one idiot. He was issued a yellow card for his unorthodox spot kick and was branded ‘disrespectful’ by his team manager. A lot of sports commentators described his feat as one of the most unsportsmanlike, arrogant actions ever seen in international football.
To relive the famous moment which saw him take the web by storm, watch the video player below.
