Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has shared the reasons behind his mother’s absence during his FIFA World Cup debut against Spain.
The experienced shot-stopper emerged as a hero for Cape Verde, helping them secure an unexpected 0-0 draw against Luis de la Fuente’s team in Georgia.
At the conclusion of the match, Vozinha was overcome with emotion, as he became the oldest goalkeeper to achieve a clean sheet on his FIFA World Cup debut, making a total of seven saves.
In a conversation with reporters, the 40-year-old expressed that he was in tears after the game because his grandparents were unable to witness his participation on football’s grandest stage, having passed away a few years prior.
“I cried after the game because I was raised by my grandparents during my childhood, and they could not be there,” Vozinha stated. “They passed away a few years ago. My mother was also unable to attend due to a visa issue and the costs associated with it. We could not arrange this in time.”
In addition to being the oldest goalkeeper to secure a shutout on his World Cup debut, Vozinha also became the oldest player to participate in a country’s inaugural World Cup match, surpassing the previous record held by Curacao’s goalkeeper Eloy Room (37 years and 182 days old).
“I never imagined anything like this,” Vozinha regarding his recognition as Man of the Match in his World Cup debut. The goalkeeper, who currently plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second division, was the highest-rated player among both teams.
“I am incredibly proud to be named Man of the Match,” Vozinha expressed.
“It is an honor to represent the country I cherish. We come from a very small place, and our journey to qualification was quite challenging. Today, our dream was realized by competing against a team like Spain. I take great pride in everyone who contributed to that process.”