An overnight football sensation usually brings an immediate wave of international media scrutiny. But when Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha held Spain to a historic goalless draw in their opening World Cup fixture, a local Chinese businessman had already beaten the global press corps to his family’s doorstep.
Lin Jie, a Wenzhou-born entrepreneur who has lived in the West African archipelago for over two decades, moved quickly to help the player’s fifty-nine-year-old mother, Ana Cândida Évora, overcome strict financial and visa barriers so she could watch her son play live in the United States.
A Late Night Miracle in Mindelo
The forty-year-old goalkeeper, whose official name is Josimar José Évora Dias, became an immediate social media phenomenon after delivering a sequence of critical saves against Spain. Following the match, the veteran player admitted during an emotional television interview that his mother, a humble house cleaner, had missed his World Cup debut. The family could not afford the restrictive fifteen-thousand-dollar visa bond previously required by the American government.
Hearing the broadcast, Lin used a direct familial link to locate the household in the city of Mindelo on São Vicente Island. His wife owns a local clothing boutique where Vozinha’s cousin happened to work. The morning after the draw, before international reporters could secure flights to the island, Lin arrived at the family home with congratulations and practical aid.
Lin recorded the family’s modest living room celebrations for the Chinese digital platform Douyin, where the footage quickly attracted hundreds of thousands of views. Netizens praised the entrepreneur’s quick actions, joking that the global press was still booking plane tickets while local Chinese residents were already handing out travel essentials.
Beating the Global Press Corps
Lin did not limit his support to celebratory gestures. Realising that the American government had recently waived the visa bond for ticket holders, he coordinated with local National Assembly member Josina Freitas to fast-track the paperwork. The Cape Verde National Football Association stepped in to cover the official visa fees and airfares, while Lin personally provided Évora with a suitcase manufactured in Yiwu, alongside practical clothes and walking shoes for her long journey.
The joint effort successfully placed Évora on a flight transiting through Portugal to Miami, Florida. She arrived at the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, jumping to her feet to celebrate as Cape Verde secured another dramatic two-two draw against Uruguay, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive.
Before her departure, Évora expressed her gratitude to her benefactors, calling China a true friend of the Cape Verdean people. The story generated massive engagement across Chinese networks, tracking more than sixteen million impressions on Sina Weibo as users sent messages of support to the family.
A Fifty Year Friendship on the Pitch
The entrepreneur has a long history of supporting sports in his adopted home, having quietly funded regional football teams and distributed training gear for more than a decade. He noted that the unexpected success of the Blue Sharks at the tournament reflects a deep-rooted domestic football culture where children play in every street.
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The relationship between the two nations extends far beyond the current sporting tournament. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of formal diplomatic ties between China and Cape Verde, a relationship visible in the country’s physical infrastructure. The national stadium in the capital city of Praia, a fifteen-thousand-seat facility where the team trains, was built with Chinese state aid in 2014.
Lin, who estimates that over three thousand Chinese business people currently live and work across the islands, believes the World Cup run will fundamentally change the country’s international standing. While he remains a loyal citizen who supports his home country, he hopes this cross-cultural sports story leaves a lasting legacy of cooperation.
