Nigeria Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface. Photo by IMAGO
Werder Bremen’s sporting director Clemens Fritz has delivered a strong and timely endorsement of Victor Boniface, comparing the Nigerian forward to one of the club’s greatest-ever strikers, Soccernet.ng reports.
Speaking at the club’s annual general meeting on Sunday, Fritz not only defended the 24-year-old but also drew parallels between Boniface and Brazilian icon Aílton.
Boniface, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, was in Athens enjoying a rare long weekend off, but the supportive message from his sporting director would have been impossible to miss.
“I know that a lot is expected of him. Victor is a player who needs a good environment, and he has that here at Werder,” said Fritz as per Deichstube.
The former Germany international went a step further, likening Boniface to Aílton, whose 28 goals propelled Bremen to their legendary Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in the 2003/04 season.
“When I see Victor, I sometimes think back to Ailton’s early days. Like Ailton with Thomas Schaaf back then, Victor has a coach in Horst Steffen who takes intensive care of him and challenges him at the same time.”
Aílton, now 52, spent six years at Bremen and remains one of the most adored figures in the club’s modern history. Boniface, by contrast, is only eight competitive matches into his Bremen journey and is still waiting for his first goal. Yet the expectation around him remains unmistakable.
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Victor Boniface confident he can lift Werder Bremen
Boniface’s slow start in Germany’s north has followed a summer where he came close moving to AC Milan before the deal collapsed.
A year ago, the forward was one of the Bundesliga’s breakout stars, hitting 14 goals and 8 assists. Now, he has gone 13 games without scoring and has registered just one assist since joining Werder Bremen.
But he insists his contribution extends well beyond numbers.
He told ESPN: “I’m new to the club and to the city so I am just getting used to everything. Sometimes in football you go to a club and it just clicks. Now, I am here, people are focusing more on goals but if you watch the games, you will see what I contribute to the team.
“Like the Union Berlin game, I did not score or get an assist, but if you watch the game, you know what this guy is bringing to the team. But when you don’t score, people want to talk.”
His lively personality has also drawn attention online. Known for humorous, cryptic posts on social media, Boniface insists there is nothing controversial about them.
“I have been making these posts since I was in Norway, but I don’t insult anybody,” the former Union SG star said. “When I have a good feeling, I make these posts. It’s just a joke for me, but if people want to take it seriously, that’s on them.”
Fritz remains convinced that the one-year loan, which does not include a purchase option, will prove beneficial for both club and player.
“I am firmly convinced that he will live up to expectations. We at Werder will continue to give Victor time and the necessary support. And Victor wants to repay that trust.”
Boniface finished as the Europa League top scorer in 2023 and won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season in his debut campaign in the German top flight.