Cape Verde’s World Cup journey may have ended, but the tournament created an unlikely success story for both a South Florida company and an up-and-coming fútbol star.
Senda Athletics, a soccer brand with as few as 18 employees, gained international recognition after sponsoring Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha. As the first-time World Cup qualifiers captured the hearts of fans, the company found itself competing alongside global brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma on soccer’s biggest stage.
“Most people didn’t know who Vozinha was. Most people didn’t know who Senda was,” founder Santiago Halty said. “Now there are millions of people who know his name — and, hopefully, our name too.”
Following the World Cup, Senda plans to continue supporting Cape Verde by providing cleats to the women’s national team while expanding its presence in South Florida with a permanent Miami office.
