How much do South African soccer players earn on average? Highest and lowest paid South Africans

How much do South African soccer players earn on average? Highest and lowest paid South Africans

Kenneth Mwenda
May 31, 2024 at 9:32 PM
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How much do South African soccer players earn? Premier Soccer League (PSL) players earn different amounts depending on their skills and their teams' financial position. The league's top earner takes home around $900,000 annually. However, this is not the case for women's soccer.

Lerato Lamola andThembi Kgatlana
Lerato Lamola andThembi Kgatlana during the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023. Photos: Charle Lombard, Ulrik Pedersen (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Understanding the earnings of South African soccer players can be insightful for football researchers, fans, and young footballers who dream of playing in the country. Sports Brief digs information from credible sources to reveal how much South African soccer players earn.

How much do South African soccer players earn?

A South African footballer makes $2,500 – $8,500 in monthly wages, depending on their experience, team, and league. Premier Soccer League (PSL) players earn more than their counterparts competing at lower tiers.

Goal reports that a PSL player earns $7,000 – $8,500 monthly. Still, the best players get much higher pay. For instance, Peter Shalulile, one of the top talents within Mamelodi Sundowns, takes home over $700,000 annually.

How much do South African soccer players earn per week?

Premier Soccer League (PSL) players take home between $600 to $2300 every week. This shows how varied salaries are across different clubs and why some top earners expect much higher pay than others.

Bandile Shandu with Marcelo Allende in South Africa
Bandile Shandu (L) vies for the ball with Marcelo Allende (R) during the Premier Soccer League football match at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on September 20, 2023. Photo: Phill Magakoe
Source: Getty Images

How much does an average South African soccer player earn?

According to sources, players in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs earn an average of $30,000 annually. Here are the top 10 highest-paid soccer players in South Africa as of 2024:

Number

Name of the player

Current club

Salary

1

Keagan Dolly

Kaizer Chiefs

$77,000

2

Peter Shalulile

Mamelodi Sundowns

$63,800

3

Bongani Zungu

Mamelodi Sundowns

$37,000

4

Deon Hotto

Orlando Pirates

$26,500

5

Ronwen Williams

Mamelodi Sundowns

$ 26,500

6

Itumeleng Khune

Kaizer Chiefs

$25,500

7

Themba Zwane

Mamelodi Sundowns

$21,200

8

Lyle Lakay

Mamelodi Sundowns

$21,200

9

Sipho Mbule

Mamelodi Sundowns

$18,600

10

Kermit Erasmus

Orlando Pirates

$18,600

How much do female soccer players make in South Africa?

Female footballers in South Africa face significant financial disparities compared to their male counterparts. The women are paid far less than men who play the same sport.

Most female players earn peanuts, while some do not even receive monthly wages from their teams. Instead, they only get paid when there are matches, and the rest of the time, they receive training allowances and travel stipends depending on the distance covered.

For example, in 2019, Bayana Bayana players reportedly received 10 times less match bonuses than their male counterparts.

According to News 24, EFF MP Pebane Moteka, Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa, said that Banyana players get $266 for a win in an official match and $213 for a win in a friendly. Bafana Bafana players reportedly earned $3190 for a win‚ and $2128 for a draw.

Improved salary and career sustainability

The Badger team in Fish Hoek
The Badger team warms up before the match in Fish Hoek, near Cape Town, on May 21, 2022. Photo: Alessandro Iovino
Source: Getty Images

Despite these challenges, the national team's success, Banyana Banyana, has highlighted the need for better support and investment in women's soccer. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has made strides to improve the situation, such as launching the National Women's League in 2019.

However, outside of the country, the highest earners among women are boosting. In Liga MX Femenil, when she joined Tigres UANL, Thembi Kgatlana had the second most lucrative transfer fee in the league's history, which was $275,000. Forbes reported that the South African sensation rakes $550,000 annually from Tigres.

How much money do South African soccer players make?

The wages of South African footballers differ significantly because of their diversity of skills and the financial muscle of their respective clubs. The top earners at PSL pocket attractive salaries that can meet global standards, whereas average and lower cadre ones also go home with something substantial.

Even though their current pay is low, female players are championing equality in remuneration in sports, and this movement is picking up pace.

Trivia

Keagan Dolly in Montpellier
Keagan Dolly of Montpellier during the Ligue 1 match against EA Guingamp at Stade de la Mosson on February 17, 2018, in Montpellier. Photo: Alexandre Dimou
Source: Getty Images

The PSL is full of talented footballers with different salaries. Their commitment, talent, and celebrity make the league more thrilling and motivate young soccer players across South Africa.

Who is the highest-paid soccer player in South Africa?

Keagan Dolly, who plays for Kaizer Chiefs, is currently the highest-paid soccer player in South Africa. His monthly salary is reportedly around $77,000. He joined Kaizer Chiefs from Montpellier HSC in the summer of 2021.

Who are the highest-paid footballers playing in Africa?

The highest-paid African football player participating in an African league is Mohammed El-Shenawy, who earns about $2.7 million annually. Behind him is Mohammed Afsha, who earns around $1.74 million, and Percy Tau comes third with an estimated annual salary of $1.2 million.

Who is the richest football player in Africa?

Samuel Eto'o, a retired footballer from Cameroon, has an estimated net worth of $95 million, which makes him the richest African footballer in history.

Final word

Knowing how much money South African footballers make reflects how football rewards players. It shows what star players can earn and the current attempts to guarantee that all players receive fair pay.

READ ALSO: Who are the 10 best South African footballers of all time?

Sports Brief published an article about the 10 best South African footballers of all time. As of 2023, South Africa's national Football team ranked 67th in the FIFA World Cup qualifications. This is a splendid ranking despite failure in major tournaments.

Some South African footballers have made their names in domestic and international competitions while trying to take their country to greater heights. Click the above link to read more!

Authors
Kenneth Mwenda photo
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a business and sports writer with over five years of experience. At Sportsbrief, he contributes to writing biographies and listicles.