When it comes to scoring goals for the Hounds in the current USL Championship era, no one has done it more than Albert Dikwa.
A fan favorite from his first stint with the club from 2020-23, Dikwa’s return to the team this season after two years with Rhode Island FC was celebrated from the moment it was announced. Five appearances into his return, the man known as “Chico” is back to his scoring ways with three goals on the season, giving him 40 total in a Hounds uniform.
While he still has some distance to cover before he challenges the club’s all-time mark of 62, set by David Flavius from 1999 to 2006, Dikwa clearly has his scoring touch back with him in Pittsburgh. So we caught up with the Cameroonian striker after training to talk about what he does best: scoring goals.
Q: Do you remember your first Hounds goal?
Dikwa: (short pause to recall) “Yeeee-ess. I remember my first Hounds goal was against Loudoun. It was a through ball, and I just put it inside the post.”
Q: Do you have a favorite goal with the Hounds?
Dikwa: “I do have one. It’s probably one against (Philadelphia Union 2). I think it was a header on a cross from Kenny (Forbes). (Steevan) Dossantos made the run to the near post, and I was open at the second post. I just had to redirect it, and that was my favorite one to win that game.”
Q: Do you prefer scoring goals at home or on the road?
Dikwa: “I like being the villain, to be honest. That’s part of my game. (Laughs.) I like teasing people, and that brings my energy when we are away, but I will say scoring at home is the best, celebrating at home with our fans, the Steel Army.”
Q: Here’s a test for you: Have you scored more goals at home or away?
Dikwa: “I think away. Is it?” (He was correct. Twenty-one of his 40 have been away from Highmark Stadium.)
Q: As a fan, do you have a favorite goal scored by someone else?
Dikwa: “My favorite one, I would say, was Luis Suarez when he was with Liverpool, that volley that he had from almost halfway (against Norwich City on Dec. 4, 2013). He’s my hero, too. Suarez is the player I liked watching growing up, watching his movement off the ball, so I’d say Luis Suarez.”
Q: Getting goals is your first job, but what would you say is the next biggest part of your game?
Dikwa: “I would say one thing I always put in my mind when I play is trying my best to help the team defensively. Obviously, scoring goals is my job, but like they say, defense wins championships. The first thing is being compact, paying attention to do my part, to do the dirty job first, and then the goals will come.”
Q: Your last season in Pittsburgh ended with 20 goals. Is that number a target for you?
Dikwa: “I always have a high standard for myself. Even when I scored 20, that year, it wasn’t enough for me. I had some setbacks that year. I had surgery when I broke my clavicle, and I had some issues with my hamstring. I think this season, if I hit my potential, I can score more than 20 goals.”
