Vozinha’s Mother to Join Him in Miami After Visa Fees Waived
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will get to see his mother in the stands on Sunday after US officials stepped in to resolve the visa issues that kept her from witnessing his finest hour against Spain.
According to The Guardian, Ana Candida Evora — a 59-year-old house cleaner from the island of São Vicente — was unable to make the trip to the United States for Cape Verde’s opening World Cup fixture due to the high cost of entry requirements. Citizens of Cape Verde face a returnable bond of $15,000 (around £11,200) on top of standard visa fees when travelling to the US, though the Trump administration had dropped that bond requirement for World Cup ticket holders last month. By the time that exemption was announced, the financial barrier had already made Evora’s trip unworkable.
Vozinha, 40, who has kept goal for Cape Verde for 13 years, was visibly emotional after Monday’s goalless draw with Spain — a result that gave the Blue Sharks their first-ever World Cup point. He explained after the match that he had been thinking of his late grandparents and his mother, who could not be there.