Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface says he has left his injury woes behind and is now fully focused on the season ahead.
Leverkusen's triumph in the Bundesliga last season was truly one of the most surprising achievements in modern European club football. They halted Bayern Munich's pursuit of a twelfth consecutive league title, remarkably doing so without losing a single match along the way.
Boniface contributed 14 goals and eight assists as Die Werself achieved this feat. All that is even more remarkable given the context that this was only Boniface's first campaign in a major European league, and also that he missed the bulk of 2024's first three months with an adductor injury.
That fitness issue, of course, accounted for the only blot on the 23-year-old's 2023/24 season: his Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) no-show.
Victor Boniface reflects on injury struggles and embraces new season with confidence
In a recent interview with the Bundesliga website, Boniface discussed his journey of overcoming the mental challenges associated with his injury.
Reflecting on his return to form, the Nigeria international revealed he struggled with fear after his recovery, and had to work to regain his confidence.
“What I know is that after my injury, I wasn’t very comfortable when I came back. I was a little bit scared, thinking, ‘What if it happens again?’” said Boniface.
“With an injury like this, it takes time for your mind to be back at 100 percent. So, after the season, I spent quality time on holiday. Now, I’m back and I don’t have those fears in my head anymore. I’m ready to fight and give 100 percent.”
The German Football Association (DFB) recently handed Boniface a one-game suspension and imposed a substantial fine following his conviction for unsportsmanlike behaviour during his team's Super Cup victory over VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena last Saturday.
