After a momentous 0-0 draw against Spain, Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper and standout player of the match, could not contain his emotions. His mother, who played a crucial role in his life, was unable to witness this historic moment due to the prohibitive cost of obtaining a visa to the United States.
Reflecting on the game, Vozinha expressed that it represented the culmination of a lifetime of dedication to football. He lamented not being able to share this experience with his late grandparents and his mother, who were instrumental in his journey.
The United States government recently mandated that citizens from Cape Verde must post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 (£11,200) in addition to the visa fee, complicating travel plans. This financial requirement prevented Vozinha’s mother from completing her application to attend the match. Vozinha has proudly held the position of Cape Verde’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past 13 years.
“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago,” he said. “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.”
Despite Spain dominating possession, they found it challenging to penetrate a resolute Cape Verde defense. The European champions’ best opportunity came when Ferran Torres struck the crossbar, but Vozinha thwarted every other shot directed at the goal.
“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.”
Bubista, the head coach of Cape Verde, praised Vozinha for his emotional investment in the game, 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.”
He emphasized the significance of the 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.”
