"What kind of goalkeeper did you bring me?!" He recently saved Trenčín, now the world celebrates Vozinha

Tournaments like the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, USA, and Canada often deliver compelling and emotional narratives, with the most inspiring stories typically emerging when a David faces a Goliath. This exact scenario unfolded on Monday evening at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Group H saw underdog Cape Verde take on one of the tournament's biggest favorites – Spain.

Despite the clear pre-match predictions, the unexpected happened. Cape Verde managed to shock the Spanish Goliath, thwarting their expected easy win and securing an unexpected 0-0 draw to kick off the tournament.

The undisputed star of the match was 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Dias. He expertly dealt with every attempt from "La Furia Roja," who fired 7 shots on target out of a total of 27, earning an incredibly valuable clean sheet.

Within hours, Vozinha became a tournament sensation, a fact reflected in his Instagram account, which surpassed 6 million followers in less than 24 hours. Before the match, he had barely 50,000.

Slovakian fans can take pride in the fact that Vozinha spent two seasons in the Niké Liga, where he played a crucial role in helping AS Trenčín avoid relegation. He is widely regarded as one of the best foreign goalkeepers to have graced Slovakian pitches, evidenced by his 14 clean sheets in 34 league matches.

"He is the perfect proof that if you pursue your dreams, they can be achieved at any age – whether you are 20, 30, or 40 years old," said Maroš Ferenc, Vozinha's former goalkeeping coach from his Trenčín days, in an interview with ŠPORT.sk. Ferenc is now a member of Anton Šoltis's coaching staff at MFK Zemplín Michalovce.

Monday evening saw the match between Spain and Cape Verde. Is it possible you watched this game primarily for the man in goal for the African team?

"(Laughs) I'll admit, I don't watch many matches in the first place. They're on at times when I simply can't be awake at two or four in the morning because of work. However, I specifically tuned into this match for Vozinha, because I knew he would be playing. We're still in touch and occasionally text each other. Even when they qualified for the World Cup, we exchanged messages, I congratulated him, and I believed he would get a chance to play. I was genuinely looking forward to that match mainly because of him."

Did you text right before this match, or have you maintained regular contact since you both left Trenčín?

"Since I left Trenčín, I've maintained relationships with other goalkeepers, whether it's Kukučka or Chovan. I occasionally text them, and it always makes me happy to see them progressing. Yesterday, however, was something exceptional, as Vozinha was an incredible 'hard worker' and truly deserved it.

We didn't text directly before the match, but we did over the last month. We discussed private and family matters, as I also interacted with his family, wife, and children in Trenčín. He even had his dog with him, which he always carried everywhere, so it was quite personal (smiles). I worked with him for a year, and during that time, when you work with goalkeepers daily, you naturally develop a closer relationship."

Did you text even when it was clear that he would be traveling with Cape Verde to the 2026 World Cup, which doesn't happen very often for a country like that?

"Yes, we exchanged several messages. I think it was an absolutely exceptional thing for him. Even during our time together in Trenčín, we talked about how he had an incredibly difficult journey before coming to Trenčín."

When he arrived in Slovakia, he wasn't in an easy situation – he came after a serious injury sustained in a clash with Sadio Mané at the Africa Cup of Nations. He then ended up in Limassol, Cyprus, was without a club for six months, and the training hiatus was very evident. It was at that time that coach Peter Hybala was there, but he didn't stay long.

Vozinha's beginnings at the club were quite unusual. In his first training session, I kicked ten half-volleys at him, and he dropped six of them (laughs). Coach Hybala immediately ran to Róbert Rybníček (Trenčín's general manager, editor's note), asking what kind of goalkeeper we had brought him. But I knew he had quality; it was just that the long break had taken its toll, and it took a while.

The first six months, before he established himself over Kukučka, were tough for him. However, through hard work, he later earned the number one spot and became a solid pillar for Trenčín in the 2023/2024 season. He kept 13 clean sheets and was a tremendous support for the team. This was when coach Straka arrived, and they were fighting for survival. He brought stability and great composure to the goal."

When did you fully realize that this goalkeeper could be a great asset to AS Trenčín and that you just needed to wait a little while for him to return to form after his injury?

"At Trenčín at that time, we needed to bring some experience to young Michal Kukučka and Matúš Sláviček. Vozinha had spent five years at AEL Limassol as captain, so we knew in advance that a leadership personality was coming. However, such qualities cannot be demonstrated from the bench or the stands.

They only become apparent when a player gets on the field and carries the team with his performances. He succeeded in doing that. He showed his abilities both in the locker room and off the field. He helped the younger lads, and it fully paid off.

Overall, he had a fairytale story, as he only started professional football around the age of 25. He himself had already indicated that he would likely end his international career after this tournament. Working with him was fantastic; he was an incredibly diligent and principled 'hard worker'."

He certainly deserved admiration for that performance against Spain. Interestingly, before the match, he had roughly 45,000 followers on Instagram, and in less than 24 hours, that number soared to almost 6 million, which is incredible. Did you notice that?

"It's unbelievable, but primarily it's about his powerful story. His family and children were watching too. Those tears are part of it – whether you cry when you're up or when you're down. I had goosebumps watching the match, and my whole family was cheering for him.

We spent a year together, and whether it's a month or three years, I am incredibly proud of him for having had the opportunity to work with such a goalkeeper. And even though he might not have known what his career held next, I believe he will definitely find a good club now."

Were you surprised by how well Cape Verde held their own against such a star-studded Spanish team, managing a 0-0 draw, and also by Vozinha's performance in goal?

"I never doubted his physical readiness for a second. Even in Trenčín, when he was around 36 or 37, he was excellently prepared both physically and coordinatively. Over time, he managed to reach the highest level. I wasn't worried about him. He clearly showed his quality, constantly worked on himself, and pursued his goal. He also played most of the season in the Portuguese second division, so I have no doubt that someone will pick him up, at least from a marketing perspective."

It's truly fantastic publicity for our league when a goalkeeper who has played here demonstrates such mastery on such a global stage. Do you agree?

"Absolutely, it's huge publicity. The level of our league is rising every year. We have increasingly talented players, and the league is very attractive for those who want to make a name for themselves. It's an ideal environment, for example, for a career restart. Vozinha is precisely that example of a player who came, used it to gain visibility, and moved forward. It's great and certainly inspiring for others."

Did you feel personal pride watching the World Cup with a man you had coached standing in goal?

"Definitely. Every coach who worked with him must feel immense pride. Just the fact that he played against Spain and kept a clean sheet against them. The photos of all the places we worked together, and the fact that he stood against such stars yesterday, filled me with great pride, just as much as seeing his emotional tears after the match."

How did he differ in character from other goalkeepers you've coached?

"He was different in that he didn't talk much. He was rather quiet, but he knew exactly when to speak up. Most importantly, he worked diligently, and his approach inspired and supported everyone around him. When you have such a personality in the team, you clearly see the potential that helps not only the club but also other younger goalkeepers in his presence."

Returning to that moment when he shed tears after such a success, what did that personally do to you?

"I had goosebumps and felt deeply for him. I was incredibly proud of our shared work. It was perfect proof that if you pursue your dreams, they can be achieved at any age – whether you are 20, 30, or 40 years old."