2 hours ago
The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will beryllium capable to person a visa to participate nan United States and watch her boy play astatine nan World Cup aft cost issues prevented her from attending their historical tie against Spain earlier this week, US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Wednesday.
Cape Verde was named by nan US authorities connected a database of countries whose citizens must station a returnable enslaved of $15,000 (£11,200) to recreation to nan United States, successful summation to a visa fee. The Trump management past period dropped nan request for World Cup summons holders, but by that constituent nan precocious costs had ruled retired nan travel for Ana Candida Evora, nan mother of Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper.
Jeffries said Wednesday that nan visa fees person been waived and Evora will beryllium capable to be Cape Verde’s adjacent lucifer against Uruguay connected Sunday successful Miami. He thanked Marco Rubio, nan US caput of state, and nan authorities section for their efforts.
“Cape Verdeans successful America and passim nan diaspora person been celebrating nan underdog grit and resilience of nan Blue Sharks, joined by shot fans from nations passim nan globe,” Jeffries said successful a statement. “That joyousness was tempered a spot erstwhile Vozinha tearfully revealed that his ain mother was incapable to watch her son’s iconic capacity successful personification owed to visa complications. No mother should miss nan chance to spot her kid make history.
“Upon learning of this development, I said pinch Secretary of State Marco Rubio and asked nan State Department to do everything successful their powerfulness to guarantee that his mother tin be Cabo Verde’s adjacent match. It is simply a privilege to denote that Vozinha’s mom will beryllium capable to unafraid a visa successful clip to be their crippled this Sunday against Uruguay. All fees person been waived accordant pinch charismatic policy. Travel arrangements are now being made for mother and boy to reunite successful Miami. I convey Secretary Rubio, US State Department officials, nan authorities of Cabo Verde and Fifa for moving together to make this possible.”
Vozinha, 40, is Cape Verde’s astir beloved footballer and has been their starting goalkeeper for 13 years. He has been a breakout star of this World Cup, helping to gain his country’s first-ever constituent and accumulating millions of caller followers connected societal media.
“I cried because I grew up pinch my grandparents and unluckily they were not here; they died a fewer years ago,” he said aft Monday’s result. “They were everything for me, for my life. I besides cried because my mum didn’t negociate to beryllium present because of nan visa. Because of nan money we had to salary for nan visa, we didn’t negociate to [get it done] connected time. I would for illustration her to beryllium here, but I’m besides very happy.
“I person worked my full life for this moment. I’m 40 years old. I started playing shot professionally erstwhile I was 25, successful 2012. I thought astir leaving but I continued because of this dream. This is for everyone. I was named man of nan lucifer but this is for each of my teammates because without them thing would beryllium possible. I will proceed to activity for Cape Verde and for nan people.”
Evora, a 59-year-old location cleaner, told Reuters that she watched nan lucifer from location successful São Vicente, 1 of Cape Verde’s 10 main islands.
“I said that nary shot would participate his goal, and that is precisely what happened,” she said. “He is simply a awesome goalkeeper. I americium very proud to beryllium Vozinha’s mother, and I dream he continues to prevention each shot that comes his way.”
