Vozinha bids to keep name for new club career

Chilean club Colo-Colo are seeking permission for new signing Vozinha to ​use his footballing nickname on his shirt when he debuts for the club as ‌expected later this month despite regulations in the South American country prohibiting it.

The 40-year-old proved a goalkeeping sensation for Cape Verde at the World Cup and after his performances for the small island nation, and his worldwide fame on Instagram, ​is set to sign a six-month deal with Colo-Colo.

But league rules in Chile do not allow ​players to use nicknames on their jerseys. “For the personal identification of players, the ⁠paternal and/or maternal surname must be printed on the upper back of the jersey, between 5 and ​5.5 cm high, and the initial of the first name may be added,” according to the league’s ​regulations.

They also expressly prohibit the use of nicknames.

PREVIOUS EXCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED

“Nicknames, appellations, or sobriquets will not be permitted. If there are players with the same surname at a club, the initial of the first name or the second surname, ​in that order of precedence, must be added to distinguish them,” the rules continue.

But there have ​been previous exceptions allowed by the ANFP (Chilean National Association of Professional Football) and Colo-Colo are hoping they will allow the ‌veteran ⁠goalkeeper, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, to use Vozinha, as he did during the World Cup.

"We have this problem. I spoke with the ANFP and they showed good disposition. There is a Council of Presidents that was already called for Friday. I have spoken with several presidents of (other clubs) ​and they have shown ​me their favourable disposition ⁠to have the possibility of him playing with the name Vozinha, considering that he did so in the most important event in the world,” Colo-Colo President ​Aníbal Mosa told reporters on Wednesday.

The nickname Vozinha, which means “little grandmother” in Portuguese, ​was given ⁠by the older kids when he was a boy and would cry after losing games of street football and storm home to his grandparents, with whom he lived.

Vozinha is expected to arrive in Santiago on Thursday, ⁠having been ​offered a six-month deal, Mosa added.

The agreement also includes an ​option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

Vozinha was last at Portuguese second-division club Chaves but has also played ​at clubs in Angola, Cyprus, Moldova and Slovakia.