The goalkeeper who captured the world’s imagination during Cabo Verde’s surprising run at the recent World Cup is finally set to leave the sidelines of uncertainty.
A winding road to Santiago
Josimar José Évora Dias, known simply as Vozinha, has been a free agent for months, and his prospective transfer to the Chilean powerhouse Colo‑Colo has been postponed three times, each delay tied to personal matters and the fine‑tuning of contractual paperwork.
Adding another twist, whispers of a possible switch to Morocco’s RS Berkane have swirled, a club that has been courting not only the player but also Cabo Verde’s coach, Bubista, whose own future in the North African nation could influence the deal.
The jersey issue also made headlines. Chilean regulations initially barred the use of Vozinha’s nickname on the back of his shirt, but after a brief negotiation the league granted an exception, allowing the moniker that fans have come to love.
Colo‑Colo’s chief executive, Jamie Pizarro, confirmed that the club’s sporting department has reached an agreement in principle, yet the player’s arrival in Santiago has been repeatedly pushed back as the final documents were signed.
The breakthrough came on a recent Sunday when Vozinha was spotted boarding a flight toward Santiago, a visual cue that the long‑drawn negotiation is now moving from paper to plane.
For a nation that celebrated his heroics against Spain and Argentina, the move represents both a personal milestone and a new chapter for a player whose World Cup debut featured a clean sheet against the eventual champions and a near‑upset of Argentina in extra time.
The human side of a football odyssey
Behind the headlines lies a story of patience and perseverance. Vozinha’s three‑month wait was driven not by lack of interest but by a careful approach to family considerations and the need to ensure that every legal detail was flawless before stepping onto Chilean soil.