Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper celebrated for his outstanding performance during Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw against Spain, was visibly emotional at the conclusion of the match. His mother, who has been a significant influence in his life, could not witness this historic moment due to her inability to afford the visa required for travel to the United States.
The goalkeeper reflected on the game, describing it as a culmination of a lifelong dream, expressing his regret that he could not share this experience with his late grandparents and his mother. He stated, “I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago,”
In January, the U.S. government imposed a rule requiring Cape Verdean citizens to post a returnable bond of up to $15,000 (£11,200) in addition to the visa fee, complicating the application process for many, including Vozinha’s mother. Vozinha has proudly served as Cape Verde’s top goalkeeper for the past 13 years.
“They were everything for me, for my life. I also cried because my mum didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money we had to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage to [get it done] on time. I would like her to be here, but I’m also very happy. “I have worked my whole life for this moment. I’m 40 years old. I started playing football professionally when I was 25, in 2012. I thought about leaving but I continued because of this dream. This is for everyone. I was named man of the match but this is for all of my teammates because without them nothing would be possible. I will continue to work for Cape Verde and for the people. Spain, unsurprisingly, had the majority of possession but struggled to break down a well organised Cape Verde defence. Ferran Torres hit the bar in the European champions’ best chance. Everything else that was on target Vozinha stopped. “Our best weapon is our unity. The way we treat our family is our best strength. Everyone thought we came here just to enjoy the World Cup, but we know we have a team that deserves respect. It’s our first time, but we are here to compete and to fight for our country. We will play all the games with our strategy and our coach’s tactics. We will try to do better than today’s game. I hope we can win some games and, who knows, maybe go through to the next round. I am very happy and proud of all our players.”
Despite Spain dominating possession, the Cape Verdean defense remained resolute, with Ferran Torres coming close by hitting the crossbar, while Vozinha managed to stop every other shot on target. Vozinha emphasized the strength of unity within the team, stating, “Vozinha is overwhelmed by the emotion. He has made a huge effort to be here, and those were tears of resilience. I don’t like to talk about individuals, but he played so well. The team was calm and that helped to keep him calm. “This means everything for the country. We’ve always said that we want the whole world to see how our team plays. We showed courage, playing in a way that is a metaphor for our country: with resilience and overcoming obstacles.”
Head coach Bubista praised Vozinha’s emotional resilience, noting, “Vozinha is overwhelmed by the emotion. He has made a huge effort to be here, and those were tears of resilience. I don’t like to talk about individuals, but he played so well. The team was calm and that helped to keep him calm.”
Bubista also highlighted the significance of this match for Cape Verde, remarking, “This means everything for the country. We’ve always said that we want the whole world to see how our team plays. We showed courage, playing in a way that is a metaphor for our country: with resilience and overcoming obstacles.”
