Boniface Grapples with Fitness and Weight Issues at Werder Bremen

Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface is facing a challenging start to his loan spell at Werder Bremen, as reports confirm he is struggling with weight and fitness problems.

Werder Bremen’s Managing Director of Professional Football, Clemens Fritz, has acknowledged the issues and stated that the club is working closely with Boniface to address them.

Boniface’s move to Bremen came after a failed summer transfer to AC Milan. He joined Bremen on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, but has yet to make a starting appearance in the Bundesliga, playing only in substitute roles in four matches, and registering a single assist.

The 24 year old reportedly carries excess weight a factor attributed to genetic predisposition and a high-calorie diet. This has placed additional stress on his knee, which has previously endured two cruciate ligament injuries.

Fritz added: “Together with Victor, we have clearly identified the issues and are supporting him from all angles. This includes athletic training, physiotherapy, and also nutrition with appropriate advice. We are working closely with him. He accepts our support and wants to work on himself.”

He further highlighted Boniface’s commitment, saying the striker has even taken on extra training sessions beyond standard schedules. Because of these fitness concerns, Boniface was omitted from the Super Eagles squads for the October 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, as well as earlier fixtures in September.

Editorial

Victor Boniface stands at a delicate crossroads. A player brimming with talent, yet now hindered by the fundamentals of conditioning. In modern football, where margins are thin and demands unforgiving, the battle off the pitch is often as crucial as the one on it.

That a failed attempt to join AC Milan preceded his loan to Werder Bremen is telling. It suggests ambition and upward mobility but also an impatience with in-between phases. Bremen’s gamble rests on the hope that Boniface’s talent holds enough gravitational pull to overcome his current physical stalling.

But that is a dangerous assumption. A body carrying excess weight, already tested by prior knee injuries, is vulnerable. Every misstep, every overextension, carries risk. Fritz’s assurance that the club will address training, nutrition, and physiotherapy in tandem is essential but the onus here lies as much on Boniface as on the system around him. His acceptance of support is a good sign how he implements it day to day will define his return.

Missing out on national team call-ups is more than a professional setback; it is a warning that fitness is non-negotiable at elite level. To be sidelined for physical issues rather than form or tactical reasons is a reputational red flag.

Yet, this is far from a moment of despair. It is a test. If Boniface can emerge from this with discipline and resolve, he can define his character as much as his scoring record. What is required now is controlled rehabilitation, patience, intelligent load management, and recommitment. Talent provides the platform; fitness ensures the performance.

If he navigates this properly, we will recall this period not as a detour, but as the crucible from which a more resilient Boniface emerged.

Did You Know?

1. Boniface’s transfer saga to AC Milan fell through late in the window, precipitating the loan to Bremen.
2. He has suffered two previous cruciate ligament injuries, which make current joint stress a serious concern.
3. His assist for Bremen came on his first appearance in a match as a substitute.
4. His exclusion from the Super Eagles squad is unusual for a player of his stature fitness issues contributing directly to that decision. The club is reportedly applying a holistic rehabilitation approach: athletic training, physiotherapy, nutrition counseling, and individualized support.