Ex-Chiefs Striker Fires Into Golden Boot Contention

Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Efmamjjasond Gonzalez has thrown his hat into the ring in the race for the Golden Boot in Bolivia following his latest exploits for Club Deportivo Always Ready.

The Colombian forward scored the goal that set the tone for an impressive comeback as Always Ready overturned a two-goal deficit to force a 2-2 draw against Club Bolivar in a top-of-the-table clash in the Bolivian top-flight on Sunday.

Gonzalez returned to South America on the back of a difficult spell with the Glamour Boys, where he failed to make the most of his season-long loan from Real Santa Cruz in the 2023/24 campaign, as he couldn’t find the back of the net in 13 matches across all competitions.

After a horrid time in the Betway Premiership, the towering striker chipped in with six goals in 19 games upon his reunion with Santa Cruz in June 2024. However, his goals were not enough to save the team as it got relegated.

As a result, the ex-Chiefs bustling striker found a new home with Always Ready this year in January, putting pen to paper on a one-year deal that will keep him with the club until the end of the Division Professional Clausura season in December.

Now, with his latest strike, Gonzalez is currently the joint top goal scorer in the league with seven goals to his name. Interestingly, the goals came in his last six outings after he struggled to hit the target in his first four matches for the club.

The 26-year-old frontman will be hoping to maintain his red-hot goal-scoring form and help his team clinch the league title. Always Ready is currently at the summit of the standings with 24 points accumulated from its first 10 unbeaten matches.

The Banda Roja last won the championship in 2020 as they finished in fifth place in the Bolivian Primera Division last term. Gonzalez’s team will swing back into action with a clash against struggling ABB on Saturday.