Popular Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has spoken about the difficulties he faced while starting his football career due to limited opportunities and poor infrastructure in his home country.
The veteran goalkeeper said the lack of proper football facilities affected his development and that of many talented players who had the ability to succeed at the highest level.
He explained that even players who managed to get opportunities abroad often faced challenges obtaining visas, which sometimes ended their dreams of becoming professional footballers.
“To fight for the visa is the first challenge. Even though we have a lot of quality in a small country, it’s hard. When you are in Cape Verde, no one can watch you. We don’t have the facilities or the conditions. We have a lot of talent, but many never had the opportunity to go to Europe. To still be here at 40 years old is because I really have this passion.
“In football, you are always around people, but for me, it was difficult because I dreamed of being a professional player. In our country, the chance to become a professional in sport is tiny, very small. Because we are African, we are Cape Verdean, and first of all, you have to fight harder,” he said during an interview with CBS Mornings.
During the interview, a journalist asked Vozinha if he was single. The goalkeeper answered “Yes,” which caused laughter in the studio.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper is now hoping to secure a new contract with a club in America, Europe or another destination after his impressive performances at the World Cup.
Vozinha played a key role in Cape Verde’s campaign, keeping clean sheets against Spain, who later reached the World Cup final.
Watch the video below:
Vozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper who helped his team hold its own against soccer heavyweights during the World Cup, says that getting to share his team’s talents on the world stage is “the best thing that can happen.”
Vozinha shares about playing with passion, how becoming a… pic.twitter.com/toTGiR0G8A
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) July 16, 2026
