The Chilean Football Federation (ANFP) has given Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha special permission to wear his nickname on his Colo Colo shirt, despite league rules requiring players to use their legal names.
The 40-year-old joined the Chilean Liga de Primera club on a six-month contract on Monday, following his high-profile performances at the World Cup.
Under ANFP regulations, players must be registered on their shirts under their official names. The rules state that “nicknames, appellations or sobriquets will not be permitted” on playing shirts, meaning Vozinha would normally have been required to use his legal name, Josimar Jose Evora Dias.
Colo Colo successfully appealed for an exemption, allowing the goalkeeper to continue using the name by which he is known around the world. Vozinha means ‘granny’ in Portuguese.
“It is the name I have used my entire life,” Vozinha said at a news conference. “In Cape Verde, it holds great significance and a rich history, and now it does globally as well.
“If my grandmother were alive today, I think she would be proud. I hope to keep using it for the rest of my career as a tribute.”
Vozinha arrived in Santiago on Sunday and was welcomed by an enthusiastic reception from Colo Colo supporters. He trained with his new team-mates two days later.
The goalkeeper became a cult figure during the World Cup after helping Cape Verde earn their first point at the tournament in a group-stage draw with Spain. His popularity also grew dramatically online, with his Instagram following increasing from 50,000 to almost 30 million.
Cape Verde progressed to the knockout stage, where they took eventual finalists Argentina to extra time in the last 32. Vozinha was subsequently selected in Fifa’s team of the tournament.
His impact extended beyond football, with a newly discovered species of sea slug named after him.
Vozinha has played for clubs in Slovakia, Angola, Moldova and Cyprus, and most recently represented Portuguese second-tier team Chaves. Despite spending much of his career in smaller leagues, he said he had always regarded himself as a player for a major club.
Colo Colo are the most successful team in the Primera Division, with 34 league titles, and have won the Copa Chile 14 times. Vozinha described joining the club as the “highlight” of his career at club level.
“The decision was very clear. Despite playing in smaller leagues for clubs that weren’t exactly giants, deep down I always told myself I was a ‘big club’ player,” Vozinha said.
“So when Colo Colo came calling, there was no doubt. From day one, I knew where I wanted to play. I received many offers but Colo Colo was always the priority.
“The World Cup was the best thing that ever happened to me in football, but that is in the past now. Being here representing Colo Colo – a massive club with a rich history – is the highlight of my club career.”
