Why Has Vozinha Not Made His Colo Colo Debut Yet?

The Cape Verde goalkeeper arrived in Chile with huge expectations. What is delaying his long-awaited debut?

Vozinha has yet to make his debut for Colo Colo.

The legendary Cape Verde goalkeeper, one of the standout performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arrived in Chile amid huge expectations. However, head coach Fernando Ortiz has opted to take his integration into the starting lineup slowly.

Why Was Vozinha Not Called Up Against Unión La Calera?

The main reason is his lack of competitive match fitness and his ongoing adaptation to the club and Chilean football. Vozinha has had a period of inactivity following his participation in the World Cup, so the coaching staff believes he first needs to regain his best physical condition.

That is why, in the 2-1 win over Unión La Calera, “El Tano” chose to keep 19-year-old Gabriel Maureira in goal instead of including the experienced Cape Verdean goalkeeper.

The decision is not related to an injury or contractual issue, but rather to the club’s desire to get Vozinha fully fit before he competes for the starting spot.

When Could Vozinha Make His Colo Colo Debut?

Vozinha’s debut date has not been officially confirmed, but Colo Colo’s upcoming schedule offers a couple of potential opportunities.

After beginning training with the squad, Sunday, August 16, against O’Higgins at Estadio Monumental stands out as one of the earliest possibilities.

Another option could be August 23 against Universidad de Chile, in a highly anticipated match given that it is the Chilean Superclásico.

He could also make his debut later in the Copa Chile, depending on Ortiz’s assessment during training.

Ortiz Makes It Clear Vozinha Must Earn His Spot

The Colo Colo manager has been clear since the signing was announced: Vozinha has not been guaranteed the starting goalkeeper role. Ortiz explained that the veteran will be “one more player” who must compete for his place, despite his impressive performances with Cape Verde at the World Cup.

The signing also comes with an interesting detail: Vozinha is 40 years old and initially signed a six-month contract, with an option to extend his deal through 2027. His reported salary is around $25,000 per month.

For now, the wait continues. Colo Colo does not want to rush Vozinha’s debut, and the goalkeeper will have to convince Fernando Ortiz that he is ready to take over between the posts. If his adaptation progresses as expected, the match against O’Higgins could become the stage for his long-awaited debut in Chile.