Victor Boniface, the 25-year-old Nigerian striker everyone thought was done in the Bundesliga, just netted a brace for Bayer Leverkusen in their first pre-season friendly. This is huge, especially when you consider his market value plummeted from a staggering €40m down to just €5m after a nightmare loan last year. Talk about a comeback! He scored two in a dominant 0-6 away victory over Sportfreunde Bamberg, and suddenly, his future in Germany is very much back on the table.
From Disaster to Dribbling Again
Last year was rough for Boniface. His loan stint with Werder Bremen was characterized by a clear lack of match fitness and some cryptic social media posts that made it seem like his Bundesliga career, or any career for that matter, was toast. But yesterday? He proved he still has value. Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s managing director, told *Kicker* that Boniface was “able to make a few moves and even dribble again.” Rolfes added, “We didn’t see that last pre-season. These were things he simply couldn’t do last summer. We’re very satisfied with his physical condition.” Hearing that he scored twice just makes Rolfes “very happy,” noting last year was “an exceptionally difficult year for him.”
The Next Objective: Full Fitness
While those two goals are a massive step, Boniface still isn’t 100 percent. Rolfes was clear, saying, “Of course, one can tell that some things are still missing. He’s in much better shape than he was last spring, but still has some steps to take.” Leverkusen’s newly appointed head coach, Carles Martinez, echoed that, emphasizing that “It’s important for Boni to train with a group to improve physically.” Martinez noted Boniface trained all week and got 35 minutes in the friendly, which is key. “Both he and us know that he must improve,” Martinez stated. Boniface himself is feeling good, saying, “I’m doing well,” and “It feels good to be back and to try to work hard for myself and see how things develop.” He added that “The most important thing for me is to train, work on myself, and try to improve as a player.”
What’s next for Boniface? Rolfes says his “next objective must be fitness.” We’re looking at “one or two more weeks of very intense training” to get him fully up to speed. Martinez is confident, believing Boniface will report to training Monday with “even more energy” after today’s performance. This isn’t just about a couple of pre-season goals; it’s about a player fighting his way back from the brink, step by step. What a story!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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