Victor Boniface, the Nigerian Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen striker, has received widespread praise after sharing a heartfelt tribute to his youth coach, Johnson Blessing. The touching moment occurred when Boniface brought Blessing to join in the celebrations of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph.
Boniface, who has had a standout season with the Bundesliga club, flew Blessing in to witness Leverkusen’s final match of the season against Augsburg and partake in the title celebrations. The emotional scene was captured in two photos, highlighting their journey together from humble beginnings to professional success. Boniface captioned the post: “If you like give up,” a testament to the perseverance and hard work that propelled him to the top tier of football.
Blessing is widely recognized as a pivotal figure in Boniface’s early development in Akure, Nigeria. His guidance and nurturing of Boniface’s talent were instrumental in the striker’s eventual move to Europe.
The gesture has been met with admiration on social media, with one fan commenting on Facebook: “Boniface, what you just did by having your childhood coach with you on this historic occasion is nothing but AMAZING!” Another fan added, “Did we make it? Yes, we did,” showing the collective effort and journey shared by Boniface and Blessing.
Nigerian fans have applauded Boniface’s humility and gratitude towards his coach, celebrating the striker’s acknowledgment of the critical role Blessing played in his career.
Boniface’s tribute to Blessing shows the significance of grassroots development and the often unheralded mentors who foster young talent to achieve professional excellence.
While receiving accolades from fans, Boniface was quick to share the spotlight with his fellow Nigerian, Tella, on social media. Tella, who played a supportive role in the team’s success, responded with “Aburo mi,” appreciating Boniface’s recognition.
Tella contributed to Leverkusen’s invincible season, making 24 appearances alongside Boniface, who scored 14 league goals. Their contributions have etched their names into the annals of both Nigerian and German football history as key figures in one of the Bundesliga’s most remarkable achievements.
Boniface’s tribute to his “brother” Tella highlights their unbreakable bond and mutual support, both on and off the pitch, as they celebrate their historic season together.
