Leverkusen’s Boniface sidelined with leg injury

Leverkusen’s Boniface sidelined with leg injury
Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria striker Victor Boniface is set to miss "a few games" after returning from international duty with a leg injury, coach Xabi Alonso said Friday. (AFP/File)
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Updated 22 November 2024

Leverkusen’s Boniface sidelined with leg injury

Leverkusen’s Boniface sidelined with leg injury
  • “He’s got a small injury in his thigh muscle, it’s a shame,” Alonso told reporters ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Heidenheim
  • Nigerian media reported Boniface could miss the remainder of 2024 but Alonso was optimistic the striker would be back soon

BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria striker Victor Boniface is set to miss “a few games” after returning from international duty with a leg injury, coach Xabi Alonso said Friday.
“He’s got a small injury in his thigh muscle, it’s a shame,” Alonso told reporters ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Heidenheim.
Nigerian media reported Boniface could miss the remainder of 2024 but Alonso was optimistic the striker would be back soon.
“He won’t be there tomorrow or against Salzburg (Champions League).
“We hope he will play again this year. We have to wait and see, but it’s not going to be six or eight weeks.”
Forward Patrik Schick, who has started just twice in the league this season, is expected to step up in the Nigerian’s absence.
“He is always ready — we don’t just need him now, but always.”
The defending champions, who did not lose a game in Germany last year on the way to an unbeaten league and cup double, have stuttered this season.
Leverkusen are currently in fourth, nine points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. Alonso’s men have dropped 13 points so far this season, one more than the 12 they leaked in the entirety of the last campaign.
Boniface is Leverkusen’s highest scorer in the league, with six goals and an assist in 10 games.


UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 10 November 2025

UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • U-16 girls’ team claim 1 silver and 3 bronze on Sunday in Thailand

BANGKOK: The UAE jiu-jitsu national team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Co., raised their total medal tally to 11 at the 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship on Sunday in Thailand.

The tournament, which has age categories under 16, 18 and 21, began on Nov. 8 and ends on Friday in Bangkok.

The girls’ under-16 team added four medals on Sunday, including one silver and three bronze, to the seven medals won by the boys’ team on the opening day.

Sara Farook won silver in the 48 kg category, Mathail Alhammadi and Ghaiaheb Alrashdi earned bronze in the 36 kg division, and Maitha Alkarbi claimed bronze in the 40 kg division.

The UAE team’s total in the under-16 division now stands at 11 medals, including two gold, three silver and six bronze.

Abdulla Al-Zaabi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the team.

He said their skill and discipline highlight the continued development of women’s jiu-jitsu in the UAE, supported by the nation’s leadership and the federation’s commitment to nurturing Emirati talent.

“This strong start gives us great motivation to maintain our momentum in the under-18 and under-21 categories and to increase our medal tally further,” said Al-Zaabi.

“It also reinforces the UAE’s standing among the leading jiu-jitsu nations on the world stage.”

Silver medalist Farook commented: “Standing on the podium at the 2025 world championship and winning silver is a dream come true.

“The matches were tough, but with the guidance of our coaches and the support of my teammates, I stayed focused on representing the UAE in the best way possible.

“I’m proud to have contributed to the team’s success and will keep working hard to win gold and raise the UAE flag in future competitions.”

The championship continues on Monday, Nov. 10, with the boys’ under-18 category, as the UAE national team look to build more momentum and add to their medal count.