Picture this.
Not good enough to be taken on board by a DStv Premiership club, yet remaining relevant for Cote d'Ivoire and getting to play against Antonie Griezman and Kylian Mbappe's France and an English team featuring Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
This is what Badra Ali Sangare experienced while playing for JDR Stars in the First Division, before he was lured by Sekhukhune United in July 2022.
"After the relegation with Free State, I never got any proposal to stay in the PSL, so I decided to go to Uthongathi," Sangare tells KickOff.com from the Ivorian camp preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Kenya.
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Sangare's career in South Africa started out with Free State in 2017, where he spent two years, before spending three years in the First Division.
"The move to Uthongathi wasn't for money but just to stay fit in the market.
"You must understand that I couldn't go and beg for a job with a PSL club because this must be done professionally.
"I know how good I am and if you sign me, you are not going to regret, so I cannot go and beg for a job.
"Your mentality is important in staying relevant in this game and at times you must restart along the way.
"I came to South Africa aged 31 and seven years later I'm being nominated for Goalkeeper of the Season," says Sangare.
In that category, he has Sage Stephens of Stellenbosch FC and favourite for the award Ronwen Williams.
"It is important for a player to get recognition because it encourages you and shows how good you are in the period under consideration.
"Everyone is expecting Ronwen to win, but for now we are all in it to win it and let us wait for the results.
"If I don't win it, it will mean I can still go on next season and improve on from what I did.
"Even last season, I felt I was also deserving of a nomination, but then I don't know how this process works, so I just kept on doing my job.
"So, this season, I pushed myself to the limits again and made a lot of crucial saves and kept the team alive with the help of my teammates," he says.
Yet despite the good season that Sangare has had on his way to turning 38, his contract situation at Sekhukhune is hanging.
"My contract expires on June 30, and we are discussing a renewal deal, which is not yet done.
"If another team comes with a proposal, then I must have a look, but for now focus is on the camp here with the national team.
"Look, I don't even feel like I'm now 38 and this is because I take good care of my body.
"Since I came to South Africa, how many times have you heard of me being injured?
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"For a goalkeeper, age doesn't matter and to prove that, how old was Egyptian keeper Essam El Hadary when he went to the World Cup?
"Goalkeepers don't run like strikers, so you can play longer and as a crucial position you need maturity between the posts.
"I don't even know how many more years I will still play at this level.
"Football is not about age but getting the job done, which is why I'm here getting nominated at age 38," concludes Sangare.