Have you been wondering who are the highest paid players in the South African Premier Soccer League? Well, you’ll be happy to know that you are not the only one. This is a question often asked by a lot of South Africans.
Why do people want to know the highest paid players in the South African PSL? It’s mainly due to the reason that the South African PSL is one of the largest and most popular in Africa.
Because of its popularity, its only natural for fans to be curious what their superstars are earning.
Contributing to the popularity of the South African PSL, is the fact that its aired live on DStv. SuperSport channel 202 (in South Africa) is the dedicated channel for the PSL.
In addition, the South African PSL is actively followed by many across the continent.
Just as the SA PSL has continued to gain attention, the players are now the highest paid in Africa, only after Egypt.
Who are the top 10 highest paid players in PSL?
The average Premier Soccer League player earns R100,000 per month. That means the current PSL player makes R1.2 million per year.
Let’s take a loot at the top 10 earners in the DStv PSL this season and what they take home.
1. Keagan Dolly – Kaizer Chiefs
Salary / Month: R1 450 000
Date of Birth: 22 January 1993
Keagan Dolly’s monthly income is believed to be R1 450 000 making in the highest paid soccer player in the PSL.
Also, Dolly plays as an attacking midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League and the South Africa national team.
He recently returned to South Africa after spending at least 3 seasons in the French soccer league.
2. Samir Nurkovic – Kaizer Chiefs
Salary / Month: R950 000
Date of Birth: 13 June 1992
Samir Nurković is a Serbian football player who currently plays for Kaizer Chiefs as a striker.
He joined Kaizer Chiefs in 2019. Currently, he is the highest paid soccer player in the team.
During the course of 2020, he was contacted by 2 clubs: Abha FC and Kuwait Sporting Club. Both clubs were reported to be ready to spend up to $800 000 (R12 million) for the Serbian.
However, Kaizer Chiefs insist they will only trade him for not less than R30 million.
3. Khama Billiat – Kaizer Chiefs
Salary / Month: R830 000
Date of Birth: 19 August 1990
Khama Billiat is a Zimbabwean professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs. He also plays for the Zimbabwe national team.
Billiat started his professional playing career playing for CAPS United in Zimbabwe in 2010. He only spent 3 months there, after which he moved to South Africa, where he played for Ajax Cape Town until 2013.
After his stint at Ajax he played for Mamelodi Sundowns until 2018 before joining Kaizer Chiefs in 2018.
His net worth is estimated to be about R12 million.
4. Deon Hotto – Orlando Pirates
Salary / Month: R500 000
Date of Birth: 29 October 1990
Deon Hotto Kavendji is a Namibian international footballer who plays for Orlando Pirates and for the Namibia football team.
Also, Hotto is a lethal striker and one of the most valuable players at Pirates that scores important goals.
5. Itumeleng Khune – Kaizer Chiefs
Salary / Month: R480 000
Date of Birth: 20 June 1987
Itumeleng Isaac Khune is a South African soccer player who plays as goalkeeper for Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League, and also the South African national team.
Khune was the highest paid player in South Africa for a long time before Billiat, Nurkovic and now Dolly took over.
Furthermore, he shot to fame when he saved three penalties against Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout final on 1 December 2007.
His net worth is estimated to be about R15 million.
6. Thapelo Morena – Mamelodi Sundowns
Salary / Month: R450 000
Date of Birth: 29 October 1990
Thapelo James Morena is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender or midfielder for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns.
He joined Mamelodi Sundowns from Celtic in 2016. Because of his adaptability and versatility, he has played a couple of positions for the club.
7. Gaston Sirino – Mamelodi Sundowns
Salary / Month: R400 000
Date of Birth: 22 February 1991
Leandro Gastón Sirino Rodríguez is a Uruguayan footballer currently playing for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Gaston joined Sundowns in January 2018. He is a creative player that brings a dynamic passing game to the team.
8. Bernard Parker – Kaizer Chiefs
Salary / Month: R300 000
Date of Birth: 16 March 1986
Bernard Parker is a South African professional association football who plays as midfielder or striker for Kaizer Chiefs.
Parker joined Amakhosi from an international career in 2011 and is one of the top-scoring players on the team.
He recently signed a one-year extension deal with the club, increasing his net worth to R20 million.
9. Thulani Hlatshwayo – Orlando Pirates
Salary / Month: R300 000
Date of Birth: 18 December 1989
Thulani Tyson Hlatshwayo is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Orlando Pirates and the South African national team.
He joined Pirates in 2020 after being at Bidvest Wits from 2014 to 2020.
10. Pavol Safranko – Mamelodi Sundowns
Salary / Month: R300 000
Date of Birth: 16 November 1994
Pavol Šafranko is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a forward for Mamelodi Sundowns and the Slovakia national football team.
He joined Sundowns in July 2021.
Conclusion
Some have often wondered how soccer players earn such huge amounts? Also, how the clubs are able to afford the wages?
The answer is very simple, think of all the Jersey sales that clubs do and all the advertising during matches on television.
I’m sure you’ve seen all the adverts around the pitch during a match! Think of the millions of people that usually watch soccer matches. That is some serious advertising that takes place there. And obviously it’s not free advertising!
There’s a lot of money made from those things and this is how clubs are able to pay huge wages.
In addition, when supporters are allowed to attend matches there is a fair amount also made from gate takings.
For the highest paid players in the world see the article: Highest Paid Footballers In the World As Ronaldo Overtakes Messi As Highest Paid Footballer.