Says contributions for Bremen go beyond scoring goals
By Daniel Oyekan
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has broken his silence on his current goal drought and wavering form at Werder Bremen, stressing that critics fail to see the full extent of his impact on the pitch. The 24-year-old, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has gone 13 games without a goal since joining Bremen, a stark contrast to the blistering form that made him one of the Bundesliga’s most talked-about forwards last season. His struggles have sparked frustration among fans, many of whom expected the same explosive presence that helped Leverkusen to their historic league triumph in 2023/24.
However, Boniface insists his performances cannot be judged by goals alone.
In an interview with Soccer Laduma as reported by Soccernet.ng , the forward defended his contribution to the team’s overall system.
“If you watched the game against Union Berlin, which we won 1-0, I didn’t score or assist,” Boniface explained. “But you would have seen what I bring to the team, my movement, hold-up play, and how I help us create space. That’s what people don’t see.”
Boniface’s rise in Germany was nothing short of remarkable. In his debut Bundesliga campaign, he netted 14 goals and 8 assists, playing a central role as Leverkusen clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title. Despite battling injuries the following season, he still managed 8 goals and 1 assist in just 19 appearances, finishing as the club’s second-highest scorer.
Yet, his transition to Bremen has been far from smooth. A lack of rhythm and confidence has seen him struggle in front of goal a recent outing against Mainz summed up his form: 64 minutes, no shot on target, and a 53% pass completion rate. Reports suggest that coach Horst Steffen was dissatisfied with his display, casting doubt over his starting role ahead of Friday’s clash against Wolfsburg.
But Boniface remains defiant in the face of mounting criticism.
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“When you don’t score, people talk. But they don’t really know me,” he said. “I’ve been through things that made me strong. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t let these things affect me.”
The Nigerian forward added that he is focused on steady improvement rather than public perception.
“I’m trying to get better every day. Maybe this is my toughest start in Germany because I’ve gone four or five games without scoring. But last season, even after missing 16 to 20 games, I still ended as Leverkusen’s second top scorer. So when people say it’s a bad season, I just laugh — what do they really mean?”
He also dismissed social media criticism as shallow and uninformed.
“Most people don’t even watch the games,” he remarked. “They just check LiveScore, see no goal beside my name, and rush online to insult me for engagement. But I’m not moved by that.”
Despite his current drought, Boniface’s record in Germany remains impressive. Across 49 Bundesliga appearances, he has registered 22 goals and 12 assists — ranking fourth among Nigeria’s all-time top scorers in the German top flight, behind Jonathan Akpoborie (60 goals), Victor Agali (32), and Anthony Ujah (30).
While his Bremen spell has yet to catch fire, Boniface’s resilience and determination suggest that it’s only a matter of time before he finds his rhythm again and silences the doubters once more.
