Colo Colo have received special approval from the Chilean Football Federation (ANFP) allowing Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to wear his well-known nickname on the back of his shirt despite league regulations that normally prohibit nicknames.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper, whose full name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias, completed a six-month deal with the Chilean champions earlier this week following his standout performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Liga de Primera rules generally require players to use their legal names on match shirts, with ANFP regulations banning nicknames and other unofficial names. However, Colo Colo successfully requested an exemption, enabling the veteran to continue playing under the name that has become widely recognised throughout world football.
Vozinha explained that the nickname has been part of his identity since childhood and carries deep personal meaning in Cape Verde. The name, which translates to “granny” in Portuguese, is a tribute to his late grandmother, and he intends to continue wearing it for the remainder of his career.
The experienced goalkeeper arrived in Santiago on Sunday, where hundreds of Colo Colo supporters welcomed him before he joined training with his new teammates.
His popularity has soared since Cape Verde’s memorable World Cup campaign. The African nation earned its first-ever point at the tournament with a draw against Spain before reaching the knockout stage. Vozinha’s performances, including helping push eventual finalists Argentina into extra time in the round of 32, earned him a place in FIFA’s Team of the Tournament.
The remarkable World Cup run also transformed his global profile, with his Instagram following increasing from around 50,000 before the tournament to nearly 30 million.
Vozinha’s professional career has included spells in Slovakia, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and Portugal, most recently with Chaves in the Portuguese second division. Despite spending much of his career outside Europe’s biggest leagues, he has long believed he belonged at a major club.
That ambition has now been fulfilled with Colo Colo, Chile’s most decorated club, boasting 34 league titles and 14 Copa Chile trophies. The goalkeeper described the move as the pinnacle of his club career, saying the opportunity was impossible to refuse despite receiving interest from several other teams.
Although he regards the World Cup as the defining moment of his international career, Vozinha believes representing Colo Colo marks the greatest achievement of his journey at club level.