‘I no longer have privacy’ — Cape Verde World Cup hero Vozinha admits

n n

By Adegboyega Adeleye

n

Cape Verde World Cup hero Vozinha has revealed that he would choose his life before fame, saying his sudden rise to global prominence has cost him his peace and privacy.

n

The 40-year-old goalkeeper told The Observer, as reported by Reuters, that the attention he has received since his country’s historic World Cup campaign has dramatically changed his everyday life.

n

“I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity. I no longer have any privacy,” Vozinha said.

n

“I go to a restaurant, and there’s always someone who wants to take a photo with me or asks me for an autograph. Or worse, someone’s filming me… I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.”

n

Vozinha became a global name during Cape Verde’s first appearance at the World Cup after helping the African side keep clean sheets against eventual champions Spain and Saudi Arabia.

n

His performances helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stage before Argentina eventually defeated them 3-2.

n

The goalkeeper’s fame grew rapidly after his standout performances, with his Instagram following reportedly rising from about 56,000 to more than 28 million.

n

His World Cup displays also earned him a nomination for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the year’s best goalkeeper.

n

But while the new attention has brought global recognition, Vozinha said he has struggled with the loss of privacy, with the impact also extending to his family.

n

Fans now reportedly visit his mother’s home in Cape Verde daily seeking photographs and conversations with the family.

n

“I’m not there so I can’t help them [his parents]. They have to learn with the situation and set boundaries,” Vozinha said.

n

He also warned that fame is often viewed only from its positive side.

n

“A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality,” he added.

n

“To be honest, if I were offered the life I have today or the life I had before, I’d choose the one I had before.”

n

The goalkeeper also revealed his shock at finding out his new Instagram fame in the minutes after the match, when his follower count had already risen to over one million.

n

“A member of the team’s catering staff came up to me and told me I had a billion followers,” he said.

n

“I had no idea what he was talking about; I thought he was joking, but he insisted. “Later, I went to do some interviews in the mixed zone, and a CazéTV [a Brazilian broadcaster] journalist asked me if I knew what was happening. She showed me her phone and that was when I saw that I had more than a million followers.”

n

Vozinha left Portuguese second-tier club Chaves in July to join Chilean side Colo-Colo, as his profile continued to rise following Cape Verde’s historic World Cup campaign.

n n