The 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper known as Vozinha won a place in football fans’ hearts with a dazzling performance at the 2026 World Cup. That performance earned him a move as a free agent to the traditional Chilean club Colo-Colo. He will not, however, be able to use his familiar nickname on his shirt at his new club. Because of the strict rules of Chile’s Primera División, the experienced goalkeeper is now being forced to change the name he plays under.
Under the rules of the Chilean Primera División, a footballer may not use a nickname of any kind on the back of his shirt. A player who takes the field in breach of the rule is shown a yellow card and the club concerned faces a heavy fine. To play for Colo-Colo, therefore, Vozinha will have to use his real name or family surname.
The goalkeeper known to fans as Vozinha has the full name Josimar José Évora Dias. Unless the Chilean league’s rules change, his shirt next season will read “Évora,” “Dias” or “Évora Dias.” Only if the rule is changed with the consent of all the club owners in the Chilean league will he be able to keep the beloved name Vozinha on his kit, which is very unlikely.
It is not only the name: Vozinha may also have to change his shirt number. Colo-Colo’s number 1 shirt is currently held by the goalkeeper Fernando de Paul. Vozinha may therefore have to wear number 16 next season.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report