Coming off the bench in last Saturday’s 7-0 pre-season demolition of fifth-tier German side Sportfreunde Baumberg, Victor Boniface scored twice in four minutes, and the celebrations said everything about what 16 months away from form had cost him, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles striker was the standout player in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double-winning season in 2023/24, scoring 21 goals and winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year award before a serious knee injury derailed everything.
He returned to Leverkusen out of shape after his ACL surgery, made only seven appearances before being sent to Werder Bremen on loan last summer, and spent that entire season struggling, managing just 11 appearances and two assists without a single goal.
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The Nigerian was the first in training at Leverkusen this summer in what did not go unnoticed by those watching his recovery closely. The brace against Baumberg was the first visible reward.
Those around the club, however, were measured in their response. In a report by Soccernet, new head coach Carles Martínez, appointed in June after Kasper Hjulmand’s departure, kept expectations grounded.
“For Boni, it’s important to improve physically and train with the group,” the Spaniard said, before acknowledging what the goals mean to him personally.
“The most important thing is that he’s a bit happier about the goals.”
Sporting director Simon Rolfes echoed the same. He was “very pleased” with the brace but reminded supporters that Boniface had endured a “really difficult year overall,” adding that while the Nigerian is already “in much better shape than in March and April,” the process of getting back to full capacity will take time.
Boniface himself was bullish. “I feel great,” he told reporters after the match, signalling that his mindset at least is already where the club needs it to be.
Leverkusen’s next pre-season outing comes against Kickers Offenbach this weekend, where he will have another opportunity to keep building.
