In a season defined by precision and flair, Atoumane Dia of Liquid Football has been crowned the 2024 Gil Heron Golden Boot Award winner, solidifying his place as the top goalscorer in the Great Lakes Conference with an impressive tally of 11 goals. This achievement also marks Dia as the leading goalscorer in the entire Midwest Premier League this season.
Dia’s contribution was pivotal to Liquid Football’s success, as he played a key role in the Detroit-based team’s offensive lineup. His partnership with teammate Dehane Gnonrou proved to be a formidable force, with the duo accounting for 19 of the 27 goals Liquid Football scored this year. Their combined efforts were instrumental in securing a 4th place finish for Liquid Football in the highly competitive Great Lakes East division.
Reflecting on his achievement, Dia expressed his gratitude, saying, “I just want to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, and the club’s staff for this year. We will come back stronger this season.“
Liquid Football’s Head Coach Javier Bautista also praised Dia’s accomplishment and highlighted the prolific partnership with Gnonrou. “We were very lucky to have two of the most dangerous players on our team at the same time. Their friendship helped push the competition between them. Atou was always in the right spots, the team did a good job finding him and he was clinical with his finishing this year. Dehane was a fantastic 1v1 player, we knew getting him the ball in an isolated situation would create goals. They had a great year, and we look forward to them scoring even more next season.”
Rounding out the top goalscorers in the Great Lakes East were Jake Kunnath of Livonia City FC, Timmy Allos of Thundercats SC, and Salvadore Thomson of Troy United FC.
In the Great Lakes West, the race for the top goalscorer was equally competitive. Piero Sabroso of Northern Indiana FC led the way with 8 goals, playing a crucial role in his team’s successful campaign that saw them crowned division champions. Sabroso’s sharp instincts and ability to find the back of the net under pressure made him a constant threat to opposing defenses.
Chasing Sabroso were a group of talented players who also made significant impacts for their teams. Noah Brumels of Tulip City United, Abraham Kadri of 1927 SC, and Daniel Arellano of Holland Rovers each finished the season with 6 goals, showcasing their consistency and knack for scoring in critical moments. These players were instrumental in their respective teams’ pushes for the top positions in the conference and were key figures in the overall competitiveness of the Great Lakes West division.