Bayer Leverkusen chief backs Victor Boniface to gain top form again

By Monsurah Olatunji 

Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has backed Victor Boniface to return to top form after a tough end to last season.

Boniface joined Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian club Royale Union SG for €21.7 million at the start of last season. The 23-year-old enjoyed a stellar debut season in Germany, helping Bayer Leverkusen, under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso, to their first-ever Bundesliga title.

The Akure-born striker boasts a record of 20 goals and 10 assists across 32 appearances in all competitions. His incredible performance saw him win the coveted Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award after winning the most Rookie of the Month awards.

Unfortunately, his remarkable season was marred by injuries that ruled him out of action for four months and kept him out of the starting lineup since his return.

Despite this, Leverkusen Chief Rolfes has backed the Nigerian striker to return to his best and start producing impressive numbers again.

“After such an injury, it is not so easy (for Boniface) to regain that explosiveness in order to be able to fully enter into duels – physically, but also mentally,” Rolfes told Kicker. “It always takes a little time, also to regain confidence in yourself and your body. He’ll be in a completely different state at the start of the season.”

After the summer break, the 23-year-old striker has returned to training at Bayer Leverkusen as they begin their preseason campaign on July 27 with a game against RW Essen.