Looking at the enormous accolades and accomplishments, Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface has enjoyed in less than three months of pitching tent with the Werkself, one cannot but be amazed.
Within this time the Nigeria international has made a lasting impression with numerous goals and assists plus awards as Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month in August, and the striker is indeed, exciting about the development.
Speaking recently with Bayer 04 TV, the striker said: “It’s been very exciting so far. The two awards (Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month in August) are a special honour that make me proud. I really feel at home in Leverkusen and in this team. I had contact with a couple of players, for example Jerry (Jeremie Frimpong) before I arrived. I knew how good this team is, how good they can be and how brilliantly I can fit in with them.”
His instant success, he ascribed to the ability to study the team and its players even before joining them.
“That I was able to settle in within a short time and that we understand each other on the pitch week after week. I just try to make it easier for my teammates by adjusting to them. Before I joined the team I knew how they played. I watched videos of my teammates and analysed their style of play. At Leverkusen for example it included Flo (Florian Wirtz). It’s very interesting for me how my teammates play and what sort of teammate they need to be successful. I am adjusting to that and trying to fit in quickly.
The 21-year-old added: “That is why it often looks like we played together for a long time. And I have settled into the new team and immediately made your contribution to success.”
Giving an insight into his role on the pitch, he said he’s the kind of striker that loves to create assists and as well score goals.
“There are lots of classic strikers. They wait for their moment in the penalty area. But then it can happen that they don’t touch the ball for ten minutes. I don’t like that. I want to play differently, create chances and not just finish them. I like dropping back to take part in the build-up and I like pulling opposition defenders towards me and thereby creating space for my teammates. A bit of this style is in my nature. I used to play in midfield and increasingly took part in build-up play. I often watch videos of tricky and intelligent players to develop my game in that way to be able to the help the team even more.”
Boniface returned to Norway for their first away game in the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 early October against Norwegian champions Molde.
For the Bayer 04 striker this marks a return to the start of his professional football career. The Nigeria international played for FK Bodø/Glimt, which is far to the north of Molde, from 2019 to 2022.
He recollected his time in Norway, while sharing a special memory from his first match in Molde.
“Molde are one of the top teams in the Norwegian league and they compete for the title year after year. Molde were the reigning champions when I joined Bodø/Glim in 2019, and in the next two years where we won the league, Molde were the main competitors as runners-up. We definitely can’t afford to underestimate them also because they are at home. The artificial pitch there could be to their advantage. For us there will be rather unusual playing conditions. It can get really cold over there and we are coming from a hot summer in Germany. We have to be ready for everything and well prepared.”
“I will always have a special memory of Molde and the stadium; I scored my first goal as a professional football player. It was a really big match back then: Molde against Bodø/Glimt, first against second. Unfortunately, we lost in the end but for me it was a very special day because of my goal. I’m happy to look back at my time in Norway.”
Though, Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso did not start Boniface in the match, they were still able to beat Molde 2-1.
With wholesale changes made to the Leverkusen line-up after their win over Mainz, it took only 14 minutes to get off the mark tonight. First-team regular Jeremie Frimpong profited from an aggressive counter-press to slot home. Ten minutes later Nathan Tella made it 2-0. Hlozek fed the Englishman who fired low to open his account in Leverkusen colours.
Tella and Adli combined nicely just before the interval – A long ball broken by Hlozek prompted the break and Tella found the Moroccan, but his effort fizzed wide under pressure from Molde’s goalkeeper.
The Bayer cavalry arrived with 20 minutes to play as Hofmann and Grimaldo joined the action. Molde substitute Kitolano made the greater impact however, albeit unlucky to see his shot cannon off the post. The hosts finally hit the net late on through Breivik. His header looped over Kovar to leave Leverkusen nerves jangling, but it would prove scant consolation in the end.
“I was nice to win in Norway and also good to see some of my friends in Norway again,” Boniface added.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
