Galician handball is in mourning. Gabi Ben Modo, an inseparable figure of SD Teucro, passed away on May 1, 2026 at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer. Born in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, he developed his entire career in Galicia, where the Galician Federation remembered him as an icon of the sport and one of its greatest figures.
The tactical evolution in which Ben Modo was a pioneer 🏐
Ben Modo stood out for his intelligence on the court, anticipating movements that are now standard in modern handball. His ability to read the game from the pivot allowed Teucro to develop offensive systems based on continuous blocks and changes of pace. This vision, combined with refined technique, made him a tactical reference who influenced subsequent generations of Galician players.
The play that even VAR would have applauded 🎭
They say that in a decisive match, Ben Modo faked an injury to confuse the opposing defense, got up, stole the ball, and scored. The referee, perplexed, validated the goal. Today, with VAR's clinical eye, they would surely have given him a card for theatrics, but in those days it was pure cunning. Ironies of fate: the only offside he ever knew was that of life.