With the blackout that he has faced at Kaizer Chiefs this season, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe is still finding means of ploughing his way to relevance through a career that has suffered a freeze at club level.
Ditlhokwe is days away from completing five months since he last played club football at Chiefs, where he played 21 games in what was his first season last term.
READ: From regular at Chiefs to being clubless
The last time that he saw action in an official match was in the last game of the past campaign, which ended in defeat against Cape Town Spurs in May.
Since then, so much has happened at the club with Cavin Johnson making way for Nasreddine Nabi and with Inacio Miguel, Rushwin Dortley, Bradley Cross and Bongani Sam signed, while Edmilson Dove was kept in the two positions that Ditlhokwe plays.
This has meant relegation to the stands for the 26-year-old, who is facing similar circumstances to Given Msimango and Zitha Kwinika.
Yet, instead of waning away, the lanky centre-back has kept himself fresh and relevant on the international stage.
Not only has he played six games for Botswana, he has also been captain playing from start to finish in games against Uganda, Somalia, Mauritania, Egypt and Cape Verde (twice).
The most recent shift was at home against Cape Verde on Tuesday, when he put in a polished display as The Zebras shocked the hosts 1-0, having done the same in their previous encounter last Thursday.
READ: Royal AM keep bleeding with FIFA ban
There was absolutely nothing to suggest Ditlhokwe is no longer a regular at his club and pursuing an escape route come the next transfer window.
Ahead of the close of the past window, there was talk of the former SuperSport United man going away on loan, but nothing came out of the discussions.