Goalkeeper Vozinha, Colo-Colo’s newest addition, will not be allowed to display his well-known nickname on the new club’s shirt, as announced on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Josimar Évora Dias, his full name, must choose one of his surnames for identification on the uniform, following the guidelines of the Chilean Championship.
The Chilean National Professional Football Association (ANFP) establishes clear rules that prevent the use of nicknames or codenames by athletes. This measure aims to maintain standardization and formality in player identification, a standard found in several leagues, although some allow greater flexibility for marketing purposes and connection with fans.
Article 36 of the regulation is explicit about the standard. “For the players’ personal identification, the paternal and/or maternal surname must be printed on the upper part of the back of the shirt, with a height between 5 and 5.5 cm, and the initial of the first name may be added. No nicknames, nicknames or code names will be allowed”, details the text.
Given this rule, Vozinha will need to choose between “Évora” or “Dias” to appear on her shirt. The only way for the nickname to be used would be through special authorization granted by the ANFP, if Colo-Colo requests it and the association makes an exception.
Vozinha’s arrival in Santiago, Chile, is still expected on July 28, 2026, where she will undergo medical examinations before formalizing her contract with Colo-Colo. The initial agreement provides for its continuation until the end of 2026, with the possibility of extension for another year.
How the nickname ‘Vozinha’ came to life and became popular in football
The nickname “Vozinha” has family and emotional roots, appearing during the goalkeeper’s childhood in Cape Verde. Raised by his grandparents, Maria Senhorinha dos Santos and Manuel da Luz Moraes, who accompanied him on the football fields, young Josimar had a competitive temperament. After taking a hit on the field, he would return home upset, and his friends, jokingly, said that he ran to ask his grandparents for help, hence the nickname that followed him and became known worldwide during the World Cup.
The connection between the name Josimar and Brazilian football and the 1986 World Cup
There is a curious connection between the Cape Verdean goalkeeper’s given name and Brazilian football. Josimar was named in honor of former full-back Josimar, who shone with the Brazilian team in the 1986 World Cup, held in Mexico.
Zé Pedro, father of the goalkeeper and a Cape Verdean soldier, followed the World Cup far from home while his newborn son in Mindelo had not yet completed his registration. It was Zé Pedro who, from afar, sent the name options for the baby.
The first suggestion was a tribute to former Argentine striker Jorge Valdano, 1986 World Cup champion. However, the Cape Verde authorities did not allow the choice. Thus, the second option prevailed, inspired by the performance of Brazilian player Josimar who enchanted Mexico at the time.
