Cape Verde shone brightly at this FIFA World Cup. After the match, Mr. Lam, a businessman from Wenzhou who has operated locally for 23 years, personally visited Vózinha's family. Short videos capturing local football scenes spread rapidly overseas, garnering over 10 million views across all platforms. On June 21, a reporter from Xinhuanet interviewed Mr. Lam, hearing the true story behind Vózinha and Cape Verde football. Below is the interview between the reporter and Mr. Lam.

Xinhuanet: What prompted you to choose Cape Verde for business initially?

Mr. Lam: I was born in 1982, so I'm 44 years old now, and I've been in Cape Verde for 23 years. My wife runs a clothing store, and I primarily deal in construction materials. Back then, a relative brought me here to develop my business. Wenzhou people have a tradition of helping family and friends in their overseas ventures. The business environment here was more suitable for my development.

Xinhuanet: How did you and Vózinha's family meet?

Mr. Lam: We've known each other for a long time. Vózinha's two older brothers played for a local club that I sponsored from the early years, so the whole family knows me well. Vózinha's cousin currently works at my wife's clothing store. Every year I organize charitable activities locally, and most residents in our town know me. I don't feel distant communicating with locals; in my free time, we sit together, chat about daily life, and enjoy drinks and conversation. I've made many good friends from all social classes, and we get along without barriers. After living here for over twenty years, I can handle daily communication and business discussions easily.

Xinhuanet: Local players' salaries in Cape Verde are very low; it's difficult to make a living solely from football. What is the approximate income level of ordinary people and players there? Do players typically have part-time jobs?

Mr. Lam: Local players' monthly salaries are equivalent to only 1,000 to 2,000 RMB. The basic salary of ordinary local residents typically falls within this range. Only civil servants in various positions earn relatively higher salaries. Before securing stable professional contracts with higher pay, most Cape Verde players must work multiple part-time jobs to supplement family income. Vózinha also works multiple jobs, though I haven't discussed the specific types of work.

Xinhuanet: Despite such low player incomes, why do locals show such great enthusiasm for football?

Mr. Lam: Football has long been deeply rooted in Cape Verdean culture. Almost every neighborhood has its own football club. Locals play football for recreation in their spare time, and you can see children and youth playing football everywhere on the streets. They play purely out of passion, and representing their hometown and country in competition is something very precious to them.

Xinhuanet: Vózinha's mother traveled to America to watch the match. What procedures did you help coordinate for her trip? What did you discuss on the way to the airport?

Mr. Lam: I only accompanied her to complete necessary procedures like visa documentation. That day, I personally drove Vózinha's mother to the airport. During the drive, I assured her that she would soon be reunited with her son, and she also hopes the Cape Verde team can continue to create miracles on the pitch.

Xinhuanet: After the match against Spain, you immediately visited Vózinha's family. What motivated you to do so at that moment?

Mr. Lam: In that match, Vózinha helped the whole world learn about Cape Verde. I just wanted to visit and offer congratulations. I even prepared some simple flowers and chocolate for the visit. Locally, a sincere hug and heartfelt blessings mean more than expensive gifts.

Xinhuanet: What was Vózinha's mother's reaction to your first visit? What did she tell you about Vózinha's childhood football experiences?

Mr. Lam: Vózinha's mother was very excited to see me. She hugged me immediately and kept thanking me. She invited me to the living room and showed me old photos of Vózinha as a child playing football, telling me about his past experiences. Vózinha had a resilient spirit from childhood; if he lost a match as a young boy, he would silently resolve to adjust and win next time. His mother is very proud that her son introduced Cape Verde to the world, and she also hopes he can continue to achieve great things on the pitch.

Xinhuanet: Your video visiting Vózinha's family attracted tens of millions of online views, and journalists from many countries came to interview locally. Many people have also contacted you. How has this sudden fame affected your work and life?

Mr. Lam: Recently, I often see journalists from many countries at the airport wanting to follow up with interviews. The team's current fame is very high, and a large number of interviews could negatively affect Vózinha and his family, so I help coordinate. When netizens add me on WeChat to learn about local conditions, I objectively share some real-life details and post local updates on Douyin. My mindset has always been quite stable, and I'm willing to share these things.

Xinhuanet: Some netizens believe you posted related videos to capitalize on the event's popularity. What do you think about this?

Mr. Lam: I have no intention of seeking fame. Wenzhou merchants have a tradition of doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, and I've been influenced by that. Moreover, since 2005, I've continuously carried out charitable activities locally, helping people in difficult circumstances to the best of my ability, and I've also sponsored some local football teams.

Xinhuanet: Cape Verde has another important match coming up. What are your plans to watch it? Regardless of the match result, will you continue documenting local life and Vózinha's family's daily life afterward?

Mr. Lam: The match will be broadcast locally at 9 PM. I have two viewing options: either go to the large square downtown, or visit Vózinha's home and watch with his family. I'll likely go to his house. Vózinha's mother left two days ago to travel to the United States to watch her son's match in person. I will continue to support Cape Verde's football team and keep filming and posting authentic footage of local life. I hope that through my small actions, more people around the world will know and understand Cape Verde, and at the same time, I want to show local people a real China, building a bridge for cultural exchange between our two peoples at the grassroots level.

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