Orlando Pirates is one of the oldest and big clubs in South Africa soccer premier league.
They have been in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and were never relegated to the second division (Motsepe Foundation Championship) ever.
This brings us to how they’ve been, for so long, running the club successfully, financially.
So today, we’re looking at the club’s top 10 highest paid players for the 2022/23 season, to see who tops them all.
Pirates Top Earners
1. Deon Hotto
Hotto joined Orlando Pirates in 2020 and has been part of the club’s attacking force since and most importantly, their top earner-player. He is believed to be earning well over R500k per month salary at the club.
2. Kermit Erasmus
Kermit earned big salaries throughout his football career, from playing internationally to returning to the South African league. Erasmus is estimated to be getting well over R350k salary at Orlando Pirates this season.
3. Richard Ofori
Richard Ofori is an experienced Ghanaian international and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper among the top earners in the club. His estimated Pirates salary is R300k per month, according to reports.
4. Wayne Sandilands
Wayne Sandilands is one of the greatest goalkeepers in South African football, having played for multiple clubs as well as Bafana Bafana national team. Sandilands monthly take-home salary is estimated to be over R250k.
5. Evidence Makgopa
Evidence Makgopa is making a name for himself as one of the greatest center forward in Mzansi’s football, having joined Pirates this season from Baroka FC. The talisman earns approximately R200k monthly.
6. Fortune Makaringe
Orlando Pirates has recently made a big splash in the transfer market, breaking their own transfer record fee to bring in two talented attacking midfielders. Fortune Makaringe is one signed from Maritzburg United for a combined R25m fee. His Pirates salary is estimated at R185k per month.
7. Vincent Pule
Vincent Pule ranks 7th on the list of Pirates’ highest-paid players. He is estimated to be earning about R170k per month based on his experience and the value he adds to the club. Pule is a South African football player who plays for Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates.
8. Thembinkosi Lorch
Thembinkosi Lorch was voted player of the season and players’ player of the season for 2018/19. Which made him the most valuable player at the time but unfortunately, he suffered from injuries and stayed off the game for a while. His salary is estimated at R165k monthly.
9. Bienvenu Eva Ega
Bienvenu Eva Ega is a Cameronian international forward striker who’d since joined Pirates for this current campaign. His notable contributions at Chippa United paved his way to Orlando Pirates. His home take package is estimated to be around R160k per month.
10. Innocent Maela
His value increased a lot since joining Pirates in 2017 and significantly when he captained the club recently after Happy Jele got released. Maela has shown to be one of the best extraordinary defenders in the league. He takes home R150k monthly, which equates to R1.8m annually.
What is the Average Player Salary in PSL
In South Africa, players earn their salaries based on experience and the various values they add to each team. Players from the club’s development don’t earn as much salary as those the club buys from other teams.
The average player salary in PSL ranges between R30k to R300k per month, depending on the terms of the contract that season. It’s like any other job opportunity, once you gain more experience and your services are noticed by other companies, you’re likely to move and earn higher salaries in the future.