Itumeleng Khune has been told to brace for a difficult ending as he counts down the months to the end of his last playing contract at Kaizer Chiefs.
Khune remains suspended for alcohol-related shenanigans, and it is unknown when he will be back available for selection after not being included in the game against Royal AM on Sunday as Amakhosi returned to action after the AFCON break.
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The 36-year-old's value has dropped drastically having played only 41 out of 157 games that the club has played since January 2020.
This is a contribution of just a quarter and worse is that he has conceded 50 goals from those 41 games (only eight clean sheets) and failed to keep a clean sheet in his last 10 appearances.
His competitors between the posts – Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Petersen, have been handed new deals to signal Chiefs' confidence in the pair.
"Khune grew up at Chiefs and so this is the only club that he has ever known," says retired Ivorian goalkeeper Noel Yobou who played in South Africa for over a decade.
"I remember when I was at Benoni Premier United around 2004/05, he came to a friendly match that we played against Chiefs in his school uniform.
"He has never left the club since then and this is now 20 years later.
"So, I feel this is really going to be difficult for Khune regardless of how Chiefs release him.
"This is not the end that Khune ever wished for at Chiefs.
"The guy has served the club all his career and I think there must be a way of releasing him rather than pushing him out.
"Khune is a legend in South Africa and so if Chiefs don't want him anymore then there has to be a special way out for him and not tears of pain.
"It would be sad if he becomes so frustrated with what is happening and just stops like that at the end of the season.
"This is really going to be difficult and there will be a lot of tears shed.
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"I think he still wants to have a solid season and step out, but I think that might happen elsewhere.
"However, as a footballer, you must always be prepared for such moments because nothing is ever guaranteed in football.
"Khune is a big boy that will decide what is good for him and I think he has already taken the decision about what to do next.
"Maybe he will go to a smaller team and proceed with his coaching papers," says Yobou.