On November 20, 2024, the city of Pivdenne in the Odesa region bid farewell to former player of Ukraine’s national handball team and later handball coach, Mykhailo Tsap. He was killed in action in the Donetsk region during a combat mission.
After the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Mykhailo joined the Defense Forces, serving as a combat medic in the 3rd infantry platoon of the 1st infantry company, military unit A4991.
Mykhailo was a multiple-time Ukrainian handball champion as part of various teams. He worked as the coach of Ukraine’s junior national team and led the team “Odesa-2” to victory in the First League of the Ukrainian Championship. He also trained young athletes at the Pivdenne Youth Sports School, where his youth team won the All-Ukrainian School League.
Born on May 28, 1980, in Novovolynsk, Volyn region, he graduated from the Kyiv Sports Boarding School. During his career, he played for teams including “KSLI” (Kyiv), “Portovyk,” the Israeli club “Assa” (Tel Aviv), Zaporizhzhia’s “ZTR” and “Motor,” as well as the Romanian club “Călărași.”
An injury sustained in April 2015 during the Romanian Championship led to the end of his playing career, after which he immediately transitioned into coaching. From 2015, he coached youth teams in Pivdenne, guiding them to numerous accolades in Ukrainian championships. His achievements as a coach included leading Pivdenne’s youth team to the championship title in the 2017 All-Ukrainian School League. In 2018, he led Ukraine’s U-18 junior national team in the European Championship Division II held in Tulln, Austria.
Colleagues and students remember Mykhailo not only as a talented player and exceptional coach but also as a man with an extraordinarily kind and open heart. He is survived by his wife and two daughters who have lost a devoted husband and father.
Eternal glory to the Hero!