August 17, 2004

He intends to stay in the S-League for another year, but this season could be the best & final chance for Egmar Goncalves to be crowned as the league's deadliest striker.

With 5 matches to go, the Brazilian-born Home United striker tops the goalscoring charts with 25 goals, including a superbly poached hat-trick last week against Albirex Niigata. His closest contender is Young Lions forward Agu Casmir, who is 4 goals behind, while four-time league top scorer Tampines Rovers' Mirko Grabovac lies 7 goals adrift.

Goncalves, who arrived in Singapore with Home United - then named Police FC - in 1996, has been arguably the most consistent goalscorer in S-League history but in the past 8 seasons, he has time and again been edged into the bridesmaid's role in the race for the topscorer's award by the likes of Jure Eres, Grabovac, former team-mate Stuart Young & current team-mate & good friend Peres De Oliveira last season.

He acknowledges that this season will prove the acid test for his ambitions to finally capture the golden boot.

Goncalves said he know he will still be playing next season but this year could be his last chance especially now as he has never been this close.

He revealed he felt sharper than any other seasons & he will be going all out for the award over the next 5 games.

The Protectors hitman, who turned 34 the day before, also further revealed another reason for wanting the top scorer award as after being written off by some had spurred him on this season.

Goncalves said some people say that he was too old & too slow now, but he had now shown them that age does not matter as long as he felt strong & fit.