World Cup personality Vozinha makes his first Colo-Colo start in a Copa Chile match

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Goalkeeper Vozinha — who starred during Cape Verde’s World Cup debut — finally made his first appearance for Chilean powerhouses Colo-Colo on Wednesday in a Copa Chile soccer match against Unión Española.

The 40-year-old veteran, whose real name is Josimar Évora Dias, arrived in South America on Aug. 2 after Colo-Colo announced his signing on July 24. Paperwork issues and personal matters had delayed his arrival three times, raising concerns among fans and team officials.

Upon landing, Vozinha immediately joined training with the domestic leaders, who currently hold a 13-point cushion over rivals Universidad de Chile.

Since his arrival, the Cape Verdean goalkeeper has been part of the squad for three matches — including last Sunday’s “Superclásico” against Universidad de Chile at the National Stadium — though he remained on the bench for that fixture.

He faces stiff competition for the starting role. With regular goalkeeper Fernando De Paul out injured, 19-year-old academy product Gabriel Maureira has firmly established himself as the team’s starter, earning praise for his standout performance in the “Superclásico.”

Coach Fernando Ortiz made it clear that Vozinha won’t be handed the job, emphasizing that he will have to earn the starting spot on merit.

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“It’s going to be a great competition between Vozinha, Gabriel, and the others who are here,” he said at a media conference prior to the goalkeeper’s arrival. “A big name won’t change my way of thinking; whoever deserves to play will play.”

Vozinha arrived in Chile after wrapping up his stint with Chaves in Portugal’s second division and delivering a standout performance at the World Cup — a tournament where he became a key figure thanks to saves that held their own against powerhouses like Uruguay, eventual champions Spain, and Messi’s Argentina, the team that eliminated Cape Verde in the round of 32.

His performance brought him meteoric fame both on and off the pitch: the Cape Verdean saw his social media following skyrocket from just under 50,000 before the World Cup to over 29 million.

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See AP’s full soccer coverage here