Boniface: I Almost Quit Football After My Mom's Death

Boniface: I Almost Quit Football After My Mom's Death

Ibraheem Lateef

Nigerian red-hot striker Victor Boniface has informed that he almost gave up football after the death of his mother, BSNSports.com.ng has gathered.

In an in-depth interview he gave Belgium news tabloid Het Nieuwsblad, the Union St Gilloise forward talked about growing up in one of the Nigerian Army barracks, where he learnt his game while playing football with his uncles.

The death of his mother a few years ago led him to depression and drinking, something he is adamant he no longer does, unless it is a can of red-bull. Speaking emotinally about that time, the striker said ‘I lost my passion for football for a while. I was very bad. I even drank alcohol – something I never do now. At most I’ll hack into a Red Bull."

The 22-year-old striker has his extended family members to thank too.

"I lived with my grandparents. Grandpa was in the army, I grew up in the military domain. I often played football there with my uncles’.

He also revealed he is not a fan of going to the gym, despite his physical body structure.

‘That is not for me. I do not like that. All my muscles are a gift from Mother Nature. If I did too much strength training, I would become lethargic‘.

This will certainly come as a suprise to many, given the powerful nature of Boniface’s physique. However, the striker is far more than the usually applied term ‘pace and power’. He is technically sound, good on the ball and can spot a pass. 

Boniface has taken the Europa League by storm this season, leading to plenty of interest from sides in other European leagues.. He stated that he is leaving any transfer talk and speculation in the hands of his agent, instead focusing on Union’s chances of winning the league. Despite having only joined last summer, Union are prepared to let the striker go, but only if they receive a club record fee for the young striker. He only cost them €2m, but Union will be looking for far more than the €6m he is currently valued at on Transfermarkt.