Grandmother travels to Chile to sign for Colo Colo: “The next chapter is on its way”

Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, has begun his journey to Santiago de Chile to sign for Colo Colo, one of the most popular football teams in the South American country. The 40-year-old footballer, one of the stars of the 2026 World Cup, boarded a flight from Madrid to arrive in the Chilean capital on Sunday night.

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The first signs of the imminent arrival of the Colo Colo reinforcement in Chile have been shown through his own social networks. The athlete posted a story on his Instagram account — which has 29 million followers after his participation in the World Cup — accompanied by a message that has been interpreted as an allusion to his new stage in South America. “Loading… the next chapter is on its way,” he wrote. Another clue was given by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, one of the oracles of international sports signings, who shared images of the reinforcement on the plane taking him to Santiago.

The white team has released to the local press a schedule of activities the player will have after his arrival in Chile. According to the plan, the plane carrying the African must land at Arturo Merino Benítez airport this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (Chilean time). On Monday, the player will attend the Meds sports clinic for a medical examination. On Tuesday morning, he will join the squad for his first training session, and at noon on the same day, he will be presented at the Monumental Stadium.

Vozinha’s trip to Chile has ended the uncertainty generated by the delay in his signing. Colo Colo had announced his incorporation last Friday, July 24, but his arrival was postponed. The delay sparked speculation about a possible collapse of the transfer due to the alleged interest of Morocco’s Renaissance Sportive Berkane in signing him. The concern of Chileans grew after it was known that the Cape Verdean would participate during the week in a technology event in Rio de Janeiro. Bernardo Vasconcelos, the goalkeeper’s agent, denied the failure in the signing and assured that his client will not sign for the Moroccan team nor attend the event in Brazil. “The player is still resolving some personal issues that have delayed his arrival in Chile. He is working on that, but the authorization and work visa are resolved,” the representative told La Tercera.

Colo Colo has also tried to calm its fans’ anxiety. Jaime Pizarro, former Minister of Sports of Gabriel Boric’s government and director of Blanco y Negro, the corporation that holds the club’s concession, said last Thursday that the goalkeeper requested additional time to resolve some personal matters. “We have maintained contact over the last few hours, where particularly an additional period has been requested to resolve some personal situations and obviously that is accepted,” Pizarro said.

From the World Cup to Colo Colo: how Vozinha arrives in Chile

Vozinha was one of the figures of Cape Verde who played in the World Cup. The goalkeeper was the protagonist of the hard-fought draw (0-0) his team achieved against Spain, the tournament champion, in the group stage. He also shone in the round of 16, where his team was eliminated in a heartbreaking defeat (2-3) against Argentina, the runner-up. His great performance caught the attention of the Chilean club, which took advantage of the fact that the footballer was free from GD Chaves, from the Portuguese second division, to seal his signing.

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The most enthusiastic about the arrival of the World Cup player to Colo Colo has been Aníbal Mosa, president of Blanco y Negro. The businessman, who is the majority shareholder and almost absolute controller of the concessionaire, has highlighted the player’s interest in joining Cacique. “The history of Colo Colo helps a lot for players to be captivated by this wonderful institution, which has its roots in its people and the greatest potential in its fans, from Arica to Magallanes,” Mosa said.

The local press has reported that Vozinha’s contract with Colo Colo will extend for six months, with the possibility of extension until December 31, 2027. For now, his salary figures are unknown. The highest-paid player in the current squad is Arturo Vidal, who earns 1.4 million dollars per year.

The Chilean football media has given mixed opinions about the goalkeeper’s signing at Colo Colo. Supporters have highlighted Blanco y Negro’s marketing move in signing one of the most popular players of the World Cup; critics point to the Cape Verdean’s advanced age, his career away from the big leagues (he has played in Angola, Slovakia, and Portugal), and that his appearance could overshadow the youth academy player Gabriel Maureira, a 19-year-old who has been the team’s starting goalkeeper in recent matches. Beyond the support and criticism, Vozinha’s transfer has shaken Chilean football. The National Professional Football Association (ANFP), the organizer of the local league, has modified a rule that prevented players from using their nickname on the jersey, in a measure specifically thought for the goalkeeper.

Doubts about the signing have also arisen from statements by Colo Colo’s coach, Argentine Fernando Tano Ortiz, who hinted that the player was not requested by him and that he will have to compete for a spot. On Friday, during a press conference, the coach tried to soften his stance and acknowledged that he has spoken with the player. “I had a dialogue with Vozinha, he is happy with the possibility of being with us. We hope he can resolve his situation soon and we can count on him, he has things to do. I am calm, things are being done as they should,” Ortiz said.

Colo Colo is the most successful team in the Chilean league with 34 titles. It is currently the leader of the standings with 42 points, with a 15-point lead over Universidad Católica and Universidad de Chile, who are in second place with 27 points. The white club is not competing in the Conmebol continental tournaments (Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana) in the 2026 season, so it has concentrated all its efforts on the Chilean championship.

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