SANTIAGO, Chile — Josimar Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, the veteran goalkeeper of Cape Verde, recently arrived in Chile to join Colo Colo. His journey was marked by a series of delays, but his arrival has been warmly received by fans.
Vozinha, 40-years-old, expressed gratitude to the supporters for their patience. He addressed reporters saying, “I’m very happy to be here. And I want to thank the fans for the patience they’ve shown while waiting for me.” He looks forward to playing at Monumental Stadium, Colo Colo’s home ground in Santiago.
On July 24, Colo Colo announced the signing of Vozinha, but documentation issues and personal matters delayed his arrival three times. Despite these setbacks, he was enthusiastically received at Santiago’s airport at 8:35 p.m. Fans greeted him with flags, banners, and chants.
Vozinha made history at the World Cup as the oldest player in a national team’s debut game, celebrated for keeping Spain scoreless.
Colo Colo supporters are eager for Vozinha to contribute to the team’s success in the Chilean league and to bolster its chances in the Copa Libertadores next season. A club supporter, Marcos Antonio Barrera, expressed excitement over the championship prospects.
Vozinha will undergo medical examinations on Monday before signing his contract with Colo Colo. Initially, the contract spans six months, with the possibility of extension. He is expected to start training on Tuesday and will be officially presented as a key acquisition for the season.
The Chilean Football Federation amended regulations to allow Vozinha to use his nickname on his jersey, allowing him to be identified as Vozinha. This decision was made to accommodate his global recognition.
Prior to joining Colo Colo, Vozinha played for Chaves in Portugal’s second division. His World Cup performance brought him fame for remarkable saves against teams like Spain, Uruguay, and Argentina.
His popularity surged online, with his Instagram followers jumping from less than 50,000 to over 29.5 million.
Fan Sebastián Paredes shared his thoughts: “Now he has to earn his place at Colo Colo through talent, dedication, hard work, commitment, and by winning over the fans. Hopefully, he’ll be a great signing and help put Chile on the map.”