The Dorchester Day Parade always means a lot to the participants who make their way through one of Boston’s proudest neighborhoods.
But for Djofa Tavares and other members of the Cape Verdean community, this year’s celebrations had an extra sparkle as they eagerly await the first-ever appearance of Cape Verde in the World Cup.
Tavares, who was decked out in Cape Verde gear down to her Cape Verdean flag earrings, said watching the team make it to the World Cup is bringing members of the diaspora together.
“Everywhere there’s Cape Verdeans. This World Cup means connecting us all,” she said. “And, you know, we have people that speak other languages. But the Kriolu [language spoken by most Cape Verdeans] connects us and I’m just really excited. Everyone’s excited.”
Tavares is traveling to Houston to watch the Blue Sharks play Saudi Arabia. But that’s nothing compared to Paulo De Barros, president of the Cape Verdean Association of Boston. He’s going to all three of the team’s group stage matches. He had a short answer when asked how much that cost.
“A lot,” he said with a chuckle.
De Barros’ willingness to shell out for the games underscores just how much this moment means to those with roots in a country he said is all about soccer.
Initially, the hope was to have the Cape Verdean team participate in the parade, though those plans fell through. But that didn’t stop the celebrations.
“Having (Cape Verde) in the world stage, playing in the World Cup, we have to show it off for the people that we’re excited, we’re here to support them,” De Barros said.
Vania Pereira said that having the World Cup hosted in the U.S. is a big deal. And having Cape Verde play in the U.S. for their first foray into the World Cup makes it that much bigger.
“And I think regardless of where it’s located, a lot of Cape Verdeans are going to Houston, they’re going to Miami, they’re going to Atlanta to watch those games,” Pereira said. “It would have been nice, though, to have it in Foxborough.”
However Cape Verde fares in the tournament, the Blue Sharks will have a tough first test when they take on Spain in their first match next week in Atlanta.
