As one the most successful clubs in Mzansi and the DStv Premiership, Sport Plus looks at the top earners at the Soweto giants.
The Soweto giants boast top players such as Deon Hotto, Kermit Erasmus, Thabang Monare, and skipper Innocent Maela to mention but a few.
Under the tutelage of Spanish mentor, Jose Riveiro, Pirates also have big companies backing the club behind the scenes such as SuperSport TV, Carling Black Label, Adidas, Oppo, Vodacom, and luxury coach company, Greyhound among others. With all these financial backers ensuring the smooth running and operation of the club, it is not surprising that Pirates also reward their players well.
Pirates Top Earners: Top Seven Highest Paid Players
This publication takes a glance at the highest-paid or top earners at the Mayfair-based club. While the list consists of goalkeeper Richard Ofori, midfielder Monare, and winger, Hotto, there are some of the players whose salaries are kept under wraps.
Pirates Winger Deon Hotto:
The Namibia international is fresh from representing his country at the AFCON showpiece in Ivory Coast. Hotto also scored against Tunisia in the group-stage encounter.
As things stand, Hotto rakes in half a million rand (R500,000) per month and he is rated as the highest at Pirates under Riveiro. The former Bidvest Wits and Golden Arrows star has played 34 matches and provided six assists plus two goals for Pirates across all competitions this term.
Pirates Striker Kermit Erasmus:
The nomadic hitman, Erasmus has dropped in the pecking order at the reigning Nedbank Cup champions. Formerly on the books of French and Portuguese clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City, Erasmus remains one of the most feared hitmen in the Mzansi elite division.
At the end of the month, the Gqeberha-born star bag a cool R350,000. The 33-year-old has struggled for regular game time at Mayfair and has only 11 matches plus one goal this season.
Pirates Keeper Richard Ofori:
The Ghanaian netminder is one of the top earners at Pirates despite struggling to cement his place as a number-one keeper. Riveiro favours the likes of Melusi Buthelezi and Sipho Chaine. With Ofori having been with Maritzburg United since his arrival in South Africa back in 2017, he earns a staggering R300,000 per month at the Sea Robbers. The 30-year-old gloveman was rumoured to be on his way out of Pirates at the start of the current season as he played three matches and conceded one so this campaign.
Pirates Winger Vincent Pule:
One of the forgotten stars in the Pirates camp is none other than former Bidvest Wits star, Pule. The dribbling wizard is injury prone and his absence has left many fans asking questions. Earning a handsome R170,000 a month means he will look to repay the faith shown by the club in his services once he recovers.
Bucs Skipper Innocent Maela:
The cool, calm, and collected skipper, Maela is a seasoned defender for Pirates, and having experienced his fair share of injury woes, the left-back is slowly finding his mojo.
The Bafana Bafana defender is expected to lead Pirates to glory when they take AmaZulu in Durban this weekend. As a 31-year-old, Maela is aware that time is not on his side and he will have to be counted as one of the successful Pirates. Earning R150,000 a month, the Bafana international boasts exceptional leadership qualities.
Striker Evidence Makgopa:
The Bafana international successfully silenced his critics during the recent Afcon showpiece. Makgopa has been a victim of the boo boys both at the national team and club level. However, Hugo Broos has faith in him and relied on him during AFCON where he scored and played a crucial role in the team’s third-place finish. The former Baroka star is handsomely rewarded with a cool R200,000 pay cheque.
Striker Tshegofatso Mabasa:
Mabasa was loaned out to Soweto rivals, Moroka Swallows at the start of the season but his goalscoring prowess forced Pirates to recall him. He has since not disappointed as he scored a hat trick last weekend to take his tally to 13 goals in all competitions.
The 27-year-old former Bloemfontein Celtic star is touted as the Golden Boot contender to compete against Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro. The Limpopo-born star earns R120,000 at Pirates.
Related: Pirates’ Riveiro Gives Up On Title: ‘Sundowns is a Point Machine