Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha, a veteran of 40 years, was visibly emotional following his team's historic 0-0 draw against Spain in the World Cup. Named Player of the Match for his seven crucial saves, Vozinha revealed the personal cost of the milestone moment.
The reason for his tears at full-time was the absence of his mother, who was unable to secure a visa to travel to the United States for the game. The financial burden associated with the visa application process proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for her attendance.
A Lifelong Dream Deferred
For Vozinha, the match represented the culmination of a lifelong aspiration. He spoke about the immense significance of playing against a team of Spain's caliber on the World Cup stage. The goalkeeper expressed a profound wish to have been able to share this career-defining achievement with his late grandparents and his mother.
Visa Hurdles and Financial Strain
The difficulty in obtaining the visa was exacerbated by a recent change in US immigration policy. In January, Cape Verde was added to a list of countries whose citizens are required to pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000 (£11,200) in addition to standard visa fees when traveling to the United States. This new requirement prevented Vozinha's mother from completing her visa application in time for the match.
Vozinha's Emotional Reflection
Vozinha, who has been Cape Verde's undisputed No. 1 for thirteen years, shared the depth of his feelings post-match. He explained the tears stemmed from both the absence of his beloved grandparents, who were instrumental in his upbringing and had passed away, and the heartbreak of his mother not being able to witness his World Cup debut.
"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."
Cape Verde's Resilient Performance
Despite Spain dominating possession, their attacks were consistently thwarted by a resolute Cape Verde defense, marshalled effectively by Vozinha. Ferran Torres' shot striking the crossbar represented the closest Spain came to scoring, with Vozinha making crucial saves on all other efforts on target.
"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."
Coach Praises Team's Spirit
Cape Verde's head coach, Bubista, acknowledged the emotional toll on his goalkeeper but emphasized the team's collective effort and resilience. He lauded Vozinha's exceptional performance, noting that the team's composure contributed to his own calmness on the field.
"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."
