Former Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele has reflected on his exit at the club, amid erstwhile Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune facing the same situation.
After 25 years at Chiefs, Khune would have to turn to a new chapter, after his playing contract was not renewed at the end of 2023/24.
He has been offered a role in the club's marketing department.
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The 37-year-old has insisted on wanting to continue playing at least until 40, but the Soweto giants have told him he has no place in the playing squad and has to make a decision whether he takes up a non-playing role or risks losing the office perks at the clubs, if he continues playing elsewhere.
Jele found himself in the same situation two years ago after Pirates did not renew his contract and offered him a non-playing role within the club's structures.
However, the former defender, who clocked over 400 games in the 16 years at the side, opted to leave, as he still had ambitions of playing on the green grass.
After six months on the sidelines, he eventually signed for Royal AM in January 2023, but his deal was not renewed at the end of the 2022/23 season.
In the aftermath, the 37-year-old says he has no regrets about the choice he made, although he realized he hurt a lot of people at Pirates.
"I realized I was playing a big role at Orlando Pirates because I hurt a lot of people, I don't wanna lie. My exit hurt a lot of people, but there was nothing I could do, I also wanted to continue playing and I don't have hard feelings for anyone. I still love Pirates, it's my team. They taught me everything from day one up until I became the person I am today and I'm grateful for that," Jele said on Trap and Pass podcast.
"I spoke with a lot of people, got advice from people I trusted, but the answer was not right from all of them. The majority were saying 'Don't go there' [to Royal AM]. But as a person, you need to make your own choice, sometimes you need to please your heart. It was not okay, but I had to do it because I still wanted to play.
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"Because I had a certain goal that at this age I want to retire, but it didn't happen the way I planned. But even then, I don't blame myself, it was a process I had to go through."
Khune's role at Chiefs is yet to be officially confirmed, although he has been announced as one of the new TV analysts at SABC Sport.