Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite has pledged his future to the club, announcing a new two-year contract on Tuesday.
Djite, who is in his second stint with United and has made 75 A-League appearances scoring 22 goals, will remain with the club until the end of the 2014/15 season.
The 25-year-old s future was in some doubt after struggling for form in a part-time role off the bench as coach John Kosmina opted to go without a recognised striker to accommodate Argentine duo Jeronimo Neumann and Marcelo Carrusca, plus marquee star Dario Vidosic.
However the powerful right-footer returned to the starting fold three weeks ago with a goal in the 2-1 loss to league leaders Central Coast before bossing Melbourne Victory and Wellington s defences in impressive back-to-back home wins.
The reward of a fresh deal follows two seasons with Adelaide in 2006/07 and 2007/08, a three-year spell in Turkey with clubs Genclerbirligi and Diyarbakirspor, as well as short stays with the now defunct Gold Coast United and Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Sainty.
Djite, who has owned a property in Adelaide and referred to the city as home since he first departed in 2008, said the continued support of the Reds faithful, coupled with the squad Kosmina is assembling, made the decision to extend his stay a simple one.
I look at the squad now and I remember welcoming guys like Eugene (Galekovic) and Cassio with open arms when they first came to the club, so obviously I love the place, Djite said.
The fans have been fantastic and the team is superb and I think that s a big thing, when you ve got so many good players you want to be part of that.
Having good players attracts good players as well.
We can achieve some special things in the next few years and I think we re definitely on the right track.
If I m going to stay in the A-League I think this is the club to be at.
Although Djite has represented the Socceroos nine times and achieved a bundle of domestic accolades including the 2007/08 A-League Young Player of the Year, the US-born forward feels he is yet to reach his potential.
I still think there s a lot more to come and hopefully I ll hit my best within these next two years, Djite said.
Kosmina, who initially signed Djite at United in March 2007, shared the former AIS junior s sentiments.
He s been an asset for the club and a bit of an unsung hero, Kosmina said.
I think he s matured as a person a hell of a lot since he first arrived at the club as a 20-year-old.
He s got good leadership skills and I still think his best football is in front of him.
Djite became the club s fourth player to have inked a new deal in the space of month following the re-signings of Neumann, vice-captain Cassio, and Portuguese winger Fabio Ferreira.
