PSL salary myths: What players earn versus fan perceptions
by Chadley Nagel · KickOffFootball is all about the ‘big numbers’, but are fans really seeing the truth?
Former midfielder Michael Morton recently opened up about his earnings throughout his 17-year career across clubs including Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, and AmaZulu.
He mentioned taking a R20,000 monthly salary as a young player with the Buccaneers, and a peak of R80,000 each month after signing with Usuthu.
“Hearing Morton say that opened my eyes: R80,000 compared to what the notion is out there about what footballers earn according to people outside of football.”
This was the reaction from Delmain Faver during the 10th episode of the CarWash, which he hosts alongside Teko Modise, Linda Mntambo, and Brighton Mhlongo.
The latest podcast saw former Maritzburg United, Bloemfontein Celtic, and Sekhukhune United midfielder Given Mashikinya join the discussion about player salaries.
What the numbers actually show
With Morton explaining that he averaged R30,000 a month as a soccer player, the panel debated the implications of his revelations.
Mhlongo stated plainly that not every player would be a superstar, and comparing money and material wealth mattered less than competing on the pitch.
Modise also disapproved of player salaries taking such prominence, worrying that it would ‘muddy the waters’ for hopeful domestic stars.
“For young stars, that’s bad because now we are going to start comparing salaries. How many players are earning; how many players have come to big teams with a high profile and never did anything and still left with that money?”
Both panellists urged young players to stop comparing their story with others, and instead focus on their own journey and the opportunities that come their way.
Mashikinya agreed with some of their sentiments, and linked the success of former soccer stars to their efforts with Bafana Bafana and the PSL top three teams.
Most players, Mhlongo stated, could earn a modest amount with smaller domestic sides, but not enough to necessarily change their lives.
Debunking popular PSL salary misconceptions
The panel also discussed the prevalence of player salary myths, including claims that ‘Figo’ Mntambo and Keagan Dolly had made a fortune.
Dolly has gone on record to deny the claims, stating that rumours about his supposed millions per month at Kaizer Chiefs were ‘not even close’ to reality.
“People at home must understand that those are ridiculous amounts. Like when you go on Google, and you look at the value and how much [Dolly] earns, those figures are not true.”
Faver also referenced soccer salaries as something of a taboo topic, but stated outright that local stars earning anywhere near the level of European wages was simply false.
This underscores how big the gap between fan perceptions and real PSL earnings is, and why Morton’s revelation offers rare insight into a narrative based mostly on guesswork.