The uncertainty of Itumeleng Khune's playing career at Kaizer Chiefs has come following a season of disappointing returns compared to his age mates in the DStv Premiership.
Khune – who has only ever played for Kaizer Chiefs throughout his professional career – is out of contract at the end of June and turned 37 on Thursday.
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His birthday wasn't accompanied by fanfare as his future is still hanging.
Though Chiefs did announce that the latest contract is Khune's last as a player, the veteran keeper has since insisted that his desire is to continue playing past his 40th birthday.
With nothing cast in stone, this has pumped the flow of the speculation waters.
While the rumour cow feeds on the grass, Khune will be saddened to know that of the 11 keepers born before 1990 who were registered for the past season, he was amongst the bottom four in terms of appearances.
Khune featured in only six games and conceded just as many goals.
His only clean sheet was when he came on as a substitute against Polokwane City – on the day he was honoured for 25 years of service.
Two of his age mates that had less minutes than him have already been released by their clubs.
Siyabonga Mpontshane's contract at Orlando Pirates will not be renewed after playing once, while Lloyd Kazapua is also out at Chippa United at the end of the month.
Kazapua made five appearances.
Lee Langeveldt played once at Stellenbosch FC but is expected to remain as third choice.
With the rest of the crew in Khune's age group, they all played more than him with Darren Keet top of the list on 32 matches for Cape Town City.
Nigerian keeper Daniel Akpeyi played 31 games at Moroka Swallows, Badra Ali Sangare was on 28 at Sekhukhune United, Hugo Nyame featured in 20 at Royal AM, and Washington Arubi had 11 at SuperSport United.
Denis Onyango was handed nine appearances at Mamelodi Sundowns, with Jackson Mabokgwane on six at Richards Bay FC.
Mpontshane, Onyango, Langeveldt, Sangare, Arubi, Nyame and Akpeyi are all older than Khune.
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The issue of age could be subjective, but minutes on the field will count heavily towards determining what happens next with Khune.
Worth noting is that at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Manuel Neuer, Keylo Navas, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Vukovic, Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera, Franco Armani, Wayne Hennessey, Remko Pasveer, Alexander Dominguez, Fernando Muslera and Eiji Kawashima made up the list of keepers older than Khune.