Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite welcomes change in kickoff time in effort to beat the heat

BRUCE Djite admitted that scoring an A-League goal for the first time since February 21 would help him silence the critics as his goal drought has been a hot topic before Adelaide United faces Perth Glory.

2/12/15 Adelaide United training - Reds train at Elizabeth as they try to win first game of season. Bruce Djite with the ball. Picture Roger Wyman

BRUCE Djite is copping the heat in more ways than one.

The Adelaide United striker has welcomed A-League’s decision to shift Sunday’s kick off time to 7pm because of the forecast 40C heat.

He also admitted that scoring an A-League goal for the first time since February 21 would help him silence the critics as his goal drought has been a hot topic before United faces Perth Glory.

But Football Federation Australia on Friday issuing a statement declaring a new kick off time has pleased Djite.

The changes were made in line with the forecast wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) which is predicted to exceed 28C — regarded as dangerous for the wellbeing of players.

The WBGT is a measure of heat stress in direct sunlight, taking into account temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation (sun angle and cloud cover).

“It’s a big deal, the caterers, the fans, Fox Sports, their Sunday has been shifted,’’ Djite said.

“The players now get to play a little bit later and it changes a lot of things.

“I would have been a bit more than annoyed if we had to play at 4.30pm.”

But Djite said it was time for the excuses to stop, claiming it was time Adelaide delivered a victory for the first time this season.

Djite hasn’t found the back of the net in 14 A-League games as the Reds defence struggle at the other end copping 17 goals in eight matches which have included two scoreless draws.

Djite returned to the starting XI after missing the first three matches of the campaign with an adductor strain.

“It’s a tough period,’’ Djite said.

“You could say monkey off the back (when I score a goal).

“Lucky we have a tight group,

“It’s these times that you want to take the experience of it.

“You can’t just sulk about it and be in denial.

“It’s difficult for myself, the players, the fans, the medical staff, everybody.

“The only way to get yourself out of it is to get your head down.

“We haven’t arrived as elite athletes as individuals and where we are by just throwing in the towel.

“And we’re not in Europe where in the January transfer window you can roll in new faces in the line up.

“Now it’s come to a time, no more rhetoric or cliches.”

Adelaide was last season forced to play on a day where the temperature reached a top of 44C in Perth in January before the Reds claimed a 2-1 win over Glory when kick off was delayed by 30 minutes.

Adelaide City played in 39C heat at Hindmarsh in December 2002 when the then Force lost to Sydney Olympic 3-1 after the 4pm kick off in the now defunct NSL.

Originally published as Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite welcomes change in kickoff time in effort to beat the heat