Star-studded Spain stopped by 40-year-old goalkeeper nicknamed "Grandma" in match against modest Cabo Verde. Here's what's known about him
A goalless draw in the match between the national teams of Spain and Cabo Verde became the first truly sensational upset of the FIFA World Cup. The main hero of this encounter is Vozinha, the goalkeeper of the African team, writes the BBC Russian Service.
Vozinha. Photo: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Before the match, Vozinha had 56 thousand followers on Instagram. During the post-match interview, he already had 1.5 million followers, and the next day — over 5 million. "This is madness," said the stunned goalkeeper.
Cabo Verde is a debutant at the World Cups. However, the qualification of the African island nation's team for the final stage of the World Cup can hardly be called accidental: in the qualifying group, Cabo Verde finished four points ahead of Cameroon, securing their direct entry into the tournament.
Nevertheless, there are no stars in the Cabo Verde squad, and Spain was considered the undisputed favorite before the first-round group stage match.
Unexpected hero of the match
After the final whistle, cameras zoomed in on the face of the 40-year-old goalkeeper. The game ended 0:0, and the Spanish stars couldn't score against Cabo Verde. The African team's players rushed to embrace their goalkeeper, who received the man of the match award.
Photo: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
"This performance is thanks to everyone. I am the main hero of the game, but this award is for all my colleagues, because without them, nothing would have been possible. And I will continue to work for the benefit of the team and the people," Vozinha said after the match.
Every World Cup has its heroes: for instance, during the 2014 World Cup, Costa Rica's goalkeeper Keylor Navas impressed specialists so much that he was acquired by Real Madrid. A year later, Navas became Real Madrid's primary goalkeeper and subsequently won three Champions League titles.
Due to his age, Vozinha won't be able to count on something similar. But the match against Spain became the peak of his generally not-so-impressive career.
"Grandma"
In Portuguese-speaking countries, which include Cabo Verde, footballers often play under nicknames.
The real name of the Cabo Verde national team goalkeeper is Josimar Dias. Photo: Maddie Meyer — FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
In fact, the national team's goalkeeper is named Josimar Dias. He was named after the Brazilian Josimar, who scored a goal against Northern Ireland at the 1986 World Cup – that goal was recognized as one of the most beautiful of the tournament.
As a child, he picked up the nickname Vozinha (Vozinha) — "grandma".
"I never lived with my parents. When I was born, my father was in the army, and my mother always had to work, so I grew up with my grandparents. In our neighborhood, the other boys were much older, and I constantly played with them in the street – and got beaten up. I played well and didn't like to lose, I was often beaten, and I would return home furious. And they would laugh at me and say I was going to complain to my grandma and grandpa," Vozinha said in an interview two years ago.
The goalkeeper couldn't stand his nickname. But eventually, he came to terms with it. In 2012, when he was 26, Josimar Dias first went to play outside Cabo Verde, for the Angolan club Progresso. But there was already another goalkeeper named Josimar there.
"So I decided I wouldn't write 'Josimar II' on my shirt. And since everyone in Cabo Verde knew me as Vozinha, I stuck with that name," the goalkeeper recalled.
After the match with Spain, Vozinha cried with happiness. Ahead are games against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Photo: Patrick Smith — FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
His career does not include famous clubs. Notable ones are perhaps only the Portuguese Gil Vicente, for which Vozinha played only one season, and Zimbru from Moldova. He currently plays for the club Chaves, which occupies 9th place in the second division of the Portuguese championship.
A couple of years ago, Vozinha was planning to retire, but the national team started gaining momentum in the qualifying tournament, and he decided to stay, hoping for a miracle – the chance to play at the World Cup.
The miracle eventually became a reality, and Vozinha not only kept a clean sheet against Spain but also set a record – he is the oldest player to debut at the World Cup.
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