EXCLUSIVE: Victor Boniface downplays personal glory at Werder Bremen

Boniface joined Bremen in September on a season long loan from Bayer Leverkusen.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Boniface says he now understands that football has its ups and downs and he knows if he does well with the team he will eventually find the back of the net for Bremen.

"Yeah, football is like life you know, sometimes you have these good moments, sometimes you have bad moments but the most important thing for me is how to find the right way,” Boniface said. 

“It's not about me scoring also, it's about the results of the team in general. I can be scoring and we are losing, I don't want that. I want a situation where we are able to win games and when we start winning games then the goals will come."

READ: Manqoba Mngqithi slams Gallants’ defensive tactics after cup exit

Boniface suffered ACL injuries in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons, and unfortunately missed 14 games at Leverkusen last season.

The Nigerian is hoping to remain injury free at Bremen for the rest of his loan spell.

"For me, personally, to try to play the whole season without injury. When I signed here I made it clear to the media and said as a football player I don't have an aim like ow I want to do this, I just go with how it goes,” he explained.

“The most important thing for me is to try and help the team in any way, score goals, play an injury free season and for the team to try to achieve something good also. So, we'll see how it goes."

The 24-year-old, who registered 32 goals and 12 assists in 61 appearances for Leverkusen, was part of Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double-winning squad in 2024.

Asked how he deals with psychological challenges, Boniface credits his mental strength to his challenging childhood.

"As you said, I'm young, I grew up with my grandparents and you know in Africa when you are living with your grandparents, you know how difficult it is. So, from there I've been to so many countries which in my life I would never have dreamt of or expect myself to go and play football,” he added. 

“From Norway, Cyprus, these places I have learnt a lot, even though I was still young but I learnt a lot. The media are people like us who put different news online without knowing the real fact and me, I'm the type of guy, I don't let those disturb me. 

“I focus on how I'm gonna get better, when you start thinking about what people or what the media opinion on you is then that's on you. Some are good of course, some motivate you but for me, my head is strong. My mentally is really, really strong, I don't really care what the media says."