Chinese businessman beats rush to Vozinha’s door, puts hero’s mum on plane to US
Lin Jie has lived in Cape Verde for more than 20 years and is friends with the family of World Cup goalkeeper
Before journalists from around the world could descend on Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s home, a Chinese businessman who has known the family for years had already arrived.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper, whose full name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias, shot to fame overnight when he almost single-handedly earned his side a draw with Spain, making a string of fine saves in Tuesday’s World Cup encounter.
Lin Jie not only delivered his congratulations but made sure the star’s mother, Ana Candida Evora, got to the airport on Thursday so she could travel to the United States to watch her son’s next match in Group H.
A Wenzhou native who has lived in the African archipelago for 23 years, Lin knows the new social media sensation - Vozinha’s followers jumped from 50,000 before the tournament to 13.2 million by Thursday - because his cousin works for the Chinese businessman.
The morning after the match, Lin visited the family in Mindelo, Sao Vicente, and in a series of posts on social media described arriving to a warm, humble household where the goalkeeper’s mother spoke of her son’s journey with a mix of heartache and pride.
In one video, Vozinha’s mother sits on a sofa flanked by her daughter, who is wearing her brother’s No 1 jersey, and her grandson.