International Soccer
The rules of the Chilean National Championship prohibit the use of nicknames in the identification of players, so the Cape Verdean goalkeeper must use one of their names or surnames.
Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias uses the nickname “Vozinha” during the 2026 World Cup, but Chilean regulations will prevent him from wearing it on the Colo-Colo shirt. Free Press Photo: EFE.
Although the football world knows him as Vozinha, the Cape Verdean goalkeeper will have to play under another name in Colo-Colo. Chilean regulations require the use of the legal name or surname on the shirt.
The goalkeeper, whose full name is Josimar José Évora Diaswill not be able to use the nickname with which he achieved international notoriety during the 2026 World Cup. Instead, Colo-Colo must decide if the number will carry Josimar, Evora either Daysin accordance with the rules of the National Championship.
The tournament rules establish that footballers must be identified with their legal first or last name. Failure to comply may result in an administrative yellow card for the player and fines of up to US$870 to the club for each match in which the provision is violated.
Vozinha’s arrival in Santiago, initially scheduled for this Monday, July 27, It was postponed due to delays in visa processing. Once the process is resolved, he will travel to Chile to undergo medical examinations and sign his contract with Colo-Colo.
The white team accelerated the negotiation with the Cape Verde international after the attempt to hire failed to the Uruguayan Santiago Mele, who will continue his career in Independiente de Argentina.
Vozinha, 40, arrives as a free agent after end his relationship with Chaves, of the second division of Portugal. According to the Chilean press, he will sign for six months, with the option to extend the contract for one more season, and a salary close to US$25 thousand monthlyalthough the club has not yet made the details of the agreement official.
The goalkeeper gained international recognition during the 2026 World Cup, where he was one of the figures of Cape Verde and was part of the ideal eleven chosen by fans in the vote organized by FIFA.
The hiring has also had a strong impact off the court. Since the signing became known, Colo-Colo has added around 70 thousand followers on Instagram and the post welcoming the goalkeeper exceeded 1.3 million likesbecoming the most successful in the history of the club’s social networks.
Despite this media impact, the president of Blanco y Negro, Aníbal Mosa, assured that the incorporation responds mainly to sporting criteria. For his part, coach Fernando Ortiz confirmed that Vozinha will compete for the title with Gabriel Maureira, 19, who assumed the position after Fernando de Paul’s injury.
The arrival of the Cape Verde international has also generated reactions in Gabriel Maureira’s entourage. Roberto Morales, uncle of the Colo-Colo goalkeeper, questioned the hiring and told the program Minute 90 who hoped that the club would give continuity to the youth player after assuming ownership due to Fernando de Paul’s injury.