VICTOR BONIFACE: “WE STILL HAVE 2 FINALS TO BRING YOU”

Bayer Leverkusen’s chase for Bundesliga glory came to an end this past Sunday as they walked away 5-0 winners against Werder Bremen, but with a DFB Pokal cup final coming up and the 2nd leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on the horizon for Diewerkelf, they’ll be very wary of their focus levels heading into the encounter against West Ham this Thursday.

Star striker, Victor Boniface made it quite clear during their Bundesliga celebration that they’re still looking to bring more silverware in a season that could see them go unbeaten in all fronts.

“We want to say thank you for the support from the beginning of the season, we still have two more finals to give you guys!", said Victor Boniface during the celebrations.

THE BONIFACE COME UP

Born in Nigeria, the 23-year-old Striker didn’t have it all rosy coming from the streets of Akure. He lived in the barracks with his grandparents as his grandfather was a solider. In those same barracks, would be where Victor would watch the soldiers play football and this would lead to him gaining a high interest in the sport.  

He played football at school level and his coaches realised the potential that Boniface had at the time. He did so well that his coach would take him to Lagos to nurture his talent at the Real Sapphire Academy, where Boniface would be scouted by Club Brugge, but a move for Boniface wouldn’t materialise. After spending 3 years at the academy, Victor was scouted by a Norwegian scout that led him to the doors of Bodo/Glimt, the second team he would trial for while in Norway.

In his trial match, Boniface scored a brace in the first half and was brought off before halftime because the team feared they would lose him to a bigger club should the then 19-year-old score more goals in that game. Victor would spend 3 years at Bodo/Glimt and netted 23 goals for the club before earning a move to Belgium, where he would join Union Saint-Gilloise .

His time at Union SG was quite brief and successful. Having spent only one season at the club, Boniface was able to put up 17 goals in his first season, scoring against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-finals. From there on, the rest was history as Leverkusen were more than willing to splash €20 Million on the transfer of Victor Boniface.

FROM NEVERKUSEN TO NEVERLUSEN

Joining a team that had never won a Bundeliga title, this move was probably seen as a steppingstone for Boniface. But, as we’ve come to learn, Diewerkelf are currently unbeaten in all competitions and having lifted the League title, they’ve got a DFB Pokal final to play and a 2nd leg quarter-final in the Europa League against West Ham.

This season, though Boniface missed out on 11 league games, he has still scored 11 games in 18 games for Leverkusen and scored the opening goal to their 5-0 demolition against Werder Bremen. With so much more left to achieve this season and knowing the mentality that Boniface and his teammates possess, its highly possible that the team will indeed bring their fans those ‘two finals’ that Boniface has promised to them.