Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha's Mother Misses World Cup Debut Due to US Visa Costs
Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha delivered a heroic performance, keeping a clean sheet against Spain in their World Cup debut in Atlanta. Following the match, an emotional Vozinha revealed his mother was unable to attend. Her absence was due to the significant financial cost of obtaining a U.S. visa, which for Cape Verde citizens can include a returnable bond of up to $15,000.
Cape Verde's goalkeeper, Vozinha, 40, was a central figure in his team securing their first World Cup point on their debut. He achieved an impressive clean sheet against European champions Spain in a match held in Atlanta.
After the game, Vozinha expressed his disappointment that his mother was not present. He explained that she could not afford the cost of a visa to the United States. Citizens from Cape Verde are among those required to post a returnable bond of up to $15,000, in addition to standard visa fees, before traveling to the U.S.
An emotional Vozinha stated, "I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago. They were everything for me, for my life." He added, "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."
Despite the personal challenge, Vozinha, who has served as his country's No. 1 for 13 years and began his professional career at 25, reflected on the moment's significance. He described it as the realization of a lifelong dream for which he had worked diligently.
While named man of the match, he credited his teammates, emphasizing, "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." He affirmed his commitment to continue working for Cape Verde and its people.
Cape Verde, an archipelagic nation off West Africa with a population of approximately 500,000, made its first major tournament appearance in 2013 at the Africa Cup of Nations. Vozinha highlighted team unity as their primary strength, stating their intent to compete and fight for their nation.
Looking ahead, Cape Verde is scheduled to play Uruguay in their second match before concluding the group stage against Saudi Arabia. All four teams in their group are currently tied with one point after the initial round of matches.
(Source: Yahoo Sports Soccer)
