Beer flowed, Nigerian hip-hop stole the show in Germany after Leverkusen’s first-ever Bundesliga triumph last Sunday. One man that played a key role in transforming the Germans from nearly men to champions is Akure-born Victor Boniface, writes PETER AKINBO
In the illustrious history of German football, Bayer Leverkusen are associated with the infamous moniker ‘Neverkusen’ due to their penchant for coming agonisingly close but falling short of major titles.
A typical example from the Nigerian point of view is Karibe Ojigwe, who joined Die Werkself from fellow Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern in 2000.
Before the Aba-born midfielder switched clubs, Leverkusen had only managed one major title — DFB-Pokal in 1993 — in their then 96-year history.
Ojigwe, a part of Kaiserslautern’s Bundesliga winning side in the 1997/98 season, was hopeful his move to Leverkusen would turn things around and enrich his trophy cabinet.
And with a squad that had the likes of U-17 World Cup winner Ojigwe, German midfield enforcer Michael Ballack, Bernd Schneider, Lucio, Robert Kovac, Carsten Ramelow, Ze Roberto, Oliver Neuville among other top class players, it looked Leverkusen’s fortunes would take a turn for the better at the turn of the century.
But that was not to be. Ojigwe and his teammates ended the 2000/01 season painfully as runners-up in the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.
And ‘Neverkusen’ endured another 22 years of an agonising wait for a first Bundesliga title, until Nigerian striker Victor Boniface burst onto the scene from Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise to lead the Germans to glory land.
Boniface emerged as a catalyst that transformed the narrative, propelling Leverkusen to unprecedented success and etching his name in the annals of Germany’s football history.
Boniface immediately, alongside teammates, reshaped the destiny of Leverkusen, transforming them from perennial nearly-men to Bundesliga champions.
And his amazing journey to football stardom is a testament to the power of resilience and determination.
Born in Akure, Boniface’s introduction to the beautiful game began in the dusty streets of the Ondo State capital.
Raised in a military barracks by his grandparents, the disciplined upbringing instilled in him values of perseverance and hard work.
It was within this environment that his passion for football blossomed, catching the attention of talent scouts during his formative years at the Real Sapphire Academy in Lagos.
Despite exhibiting prodigious talent on the pitch, Boniface’s journey was marred by personal tragedy. The untimely loss of his mother in a tragic accident cast a shadow over his aspirations, leaving him grappling with grief and uncertainty.
“I stopped paying attention to my diet and started partying,” he said.
“I was not even a drinker before then but I started drinking just to feel something. I was depressed and didn’t even realise it.”
Moreover, a series of debilitating injuries, including two anterior cruciate ligament tears, threatened to derail his dreams of footballing stardom.
However, rather than succumb to despair, Boniface found solace in the game, channeling his pain into a relentless pursuit of excellence.
And his odyssey to Europe marked a pivotal chapter in his football story. Joining Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in 2019, he quickly established himself as a force to reckon with, playing an instrumental role in the club’s unprecedented success.
Under the bright lights of the Eliteserien, Boniface flourished, helping Bodo/Glimt secure back-to-back league titles and garnering widespread acclaim for his electrifying performances.
Their 2020 triumph, in Boniface’s debut season, was the first time the club had ever finished top of the pile in Norway.
A brief sojourn in Belgium followed when he joined Union Saint-Gilloise, where he continued to showcase his talents on the European stage, claiming the Europa League top scorer award for the 2022/23 season.
He also came close to winning the Belgian league title, with the club finishing second in the Pro League, behind champions Genk only on goal difference.
It would have been the club’s first title since 1935.
Boniface netted 15 times during that season, drawing praise for his performances, as well as six goals in the Europa League as Union reached the quarter-finals where they lost to Leverkusen although the Nigeria international found the back of the net once in the two-legged tie.
His prowess in front of goal and dynamic playing style attracted the attention of Leverkusen scouts, and last summer, Boniface completed a high-profile move to the BayArena for a reported €20.5m fee, embarking on a new chapter in his career with the Bundesliga nearly men.
Arriving at Leverkusen amidst skepticism and doubt, Boniface wasted no time in silencing his critics and making an indelible mark on the club’s history.
Boniface won August’s Bundesliga Player of tyhe Month award, as well as claiming four consecutive Rookie of The Month awards (August, September, October and November), an honour handed out to players not older than 23 at the start of the league season.
His dancing celebration became synonymous with the fans in Germany and all was going according to plan for the forward until a groin injury in January ruled him out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations just days before the tournament in Ivory Coast, where the Super Eagles eventually finished as runners-up.
“Only God knows why,” he posted on social media platform X, before telling BBC Sport Africa, “There are some things that will happen, you can’t explain it because it’s beyond your own understanding.”
Nations Cup heartbreak was nothing new for Boniface, with the striker having missed out on the 2019 U-20 AFCON because of another late injury.
However, the striker returned in time in April to aid Die Werkself in the crucial stage of the competitions. He scored on his third game back to help Leverkusen earn a 3-1 aggregate win over West Ham in the Europa League quarter-finals.
April 14 marked a watershed moment in Leverkusen’s storied history as they clinched their maiden Bundesliga title after 120 years.
Boniface scored his second goal since his return from injury, the opening goal in a 5-0 victory against Werder Bremen, ending Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the league.
Boniface was among those who led the charge with 11 goals and nine assists in 18 league matches. Despite enduring a groin injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the season, his contributions were undeniable, as he played an integral role in the club’s historic triumph.
As Leverkusen fans poured onto the pitch to celebrate, the 23-year-old Nigerian had a message for them.
“We are celebrating a great achievement in the league but we still have two other competitions (Europa League and German Cup final) to compete in and try to win for our fans,” he said.
As Bayer Leverkusen bask in the glory of their historic triumph, the future looks bright for Boniface.
With the Europa League semi-final and German Cup final on the horizon, he remains focused on adding more silverware to his burgeoning collection.
Now fully recovered from his groin injury, Boniface has the chance to help his darling club claim the treble, and looks to be hitting form again with two goals in his last three games.
Next up is the Europa League semi-final against high-flying Roma in Italy May 2.
The German Cup final against Kaiserslautern May 25 will provide a glorious chance to end his maiden season with the club on another high.
“I have won a league title before,” Boniface said as the beer flowed freely in celebration at the BayArena last Sunday. “But this is different. This is bigger.”
His meteoric rise did not go unnoticed, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition throughout the footballing world.
Reacting to the Nigerian’s impressive season, CAF on their X handle wrote, “They said there’s a first time for everything, so Boniface made sure the first was his.”
Oliseh, a Bundesliga champion with Borussia Dortmund in the 2001/02 season, also sang praises of his compatriot.
“Victor Boniface was once again extraordinary as Leverkusen grabbed its first-ever Bundesliga title with five games left to play. Boniface is strong, skillful, intelligent, mobile, calm under pressure and I am convinced he will lead Nigeria to AFCON glory and more soon. Congrats bro,” Oliseh wrote on his X handle.
In Boniface, Leverkusen found more than just a striker; they discovered a transformative force that defied expectations and reshaped the club’s identity.
From the streets of Akure to the hallowed grounds of the Bay Arena, his journey epitomises reward for hard work and serves as a beacon of hope for footballers globally.
As ‘Neverkusen’ now fades into obscurity, ‘Leverkusen’ emerges, thanks to the indomitable spirit of one man, Victor Boniface, who is dancing them to greater heights.
