Template Variable Issue

[KGodel]

Hey guys. Before proceeding, I have read https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=228078 and am still not sure what's up with my code.

First, I have this function which is based on a user profile field single select menu.

PHP Code:

function get_ccode ($countryname) {
    
    $json = file_get_contents('http://country.io/names.json');

    $countries = json_decode($json, true);

    while ($cname = current($countries)) {
        if ($cname == $countryname) {
            return key($countries);
        }
        next($countries);
    }
} 


This and other functions are located in a folder on the server. I have added a plugin at the hook "global_bootstrap_init_start" with this code:

PHP Code:

require(DIR . '/custom/functions.php'); 


I am now trying to create a code to output a template variable in postbit_legacy. This is the code I have for my plugin which is at the hook "process_templates_complete".

PHP Code:

$country = $user['field58'];
$ccode = get_ccode($country);
    if ($ccode != null) {
        $imgoutput = "<img src='images/flags/$ccode.png' />&nbsp;&nbsp;";
    }

$templater = vB_Template::create('countrytemplate');
    $templater->register('cimg', $imgoutput);
$templatevalues['ccimg'] = $templater->render();
vB_Template::preRegister('postbit_legacy', $templatevalues); 


Then I attempt t use {vb:raw ccimg} in the postbit_legacy template and nothing appears. Where am I going wrong? Thanks in advance.