20 highest-paid players in Orlando Pirates and salary list

Orlando Pirates, which has been around since 1937, is arguably one of the top successful clubs in the South African Premier League. Orlando Pirates club is also one of two South African clubs to have won the CAF Champions League. With a set of talented players in the club, who is the highest-paid player in Orlando Pirates?

Orlando Pirates Club was established in 1937 and is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in South Africa. They play their home matches at the Orlando Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 40,000.

Who is the highest-paid player in Orlando Pirates?

The club, no doubt, has some of the best players on its team. While all of them are well catered to, some perform exceptionally well and earn above others. Below is a list of the top 20 earning players in the Buccaneers squad.

20. Paseka Mako - R80,000 per month

• Full name: Paseka Godfrey Mako
• Date of birth: 1 April 1994
• Age: 29 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Limpopo, South Africa

Paseka Mako joined the Mamelodi Sundowns Development Academy and later the Cape Town All Stars. He debuted professionally at Chippa United before transitioning to Orlando Pirates in 2018. He earns a monthly salary of R80,000.

19. Collins Makgaka - R100,000

• Full name: Collins Makgaka
• Date of birth: 28 June 1996
• Age: 26 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Marble Hall, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Collins Makgaka started his amateur football career in 2007 with Try-Again FC. He was spotted in 2014 while playing for FC Kodi White Doves. He made his professional debut in the NFD during a match against Moroka Swallows before signing with Orlando Pirates in 2020.

Collins Makgaka's dexterity as a midfielder has contributed to the club's success. Hence, he earns a monthly salary of R100,00.

18. Tapelo Xoki - R100,000 per month

• Full name: Tapelo Xoki
• Date of birth: 10 April 1995
• Age: 28 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Khayelitsha, South Africa

Tapelo played for Cape Town Liverpool before joining Old Mutual Academy in 2012. He joined AmaZulu in 2014 and signed his first professional contract. He moved to Orlando Pirates in June 2022, and his contract earned him a monthly salary worth R100,000.

17. Olisa Ndah - R107,000 per month

• Full name: Olisa Harold Ndah
• Date of birth: 21 January 1998
• Age: 25 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Asaba, Nigeria

Olisa joined the Nigeria Premier League side Remo Stars during the 2018/19 season on a two-year contract. He later joined Akwa United for two years and won the Nigerian Professional Football League title.

He joined Orlando Pirates in August 2021, and his stellar performance contributed significantly to the club's success in the 2021/22 season. He earns a monthly salary of R107,000.

16. Tshegofatso Mabasa - R120,000 per month

• Full name: Tshegofatso John Mabaso
• Date of birth: 1 October 1996
• Age: 26 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Botshabelo, South Africa

His professional career dates back to 2014, when he signed for the Bloemfontein Celtics. He joined his childhood club, The Buccaneers, in 2019 and has been playing his way into the fans' hearts. The forward's monthly paycheck is R120,000.

15. Miguel Timm - R120,000 per month

• Full name: Miguel Timm
• Date of birth: 31 January 1992
• Age: 31 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Durban, South Africa

Miguel Timm's youth career started in Mondeor, Johannesburg, before he attracted the attention of Orlando Pirates and Supersport United FC academies. He had a brief stint with Orlando Pirates FC U-12s before joining Ajax Cape Town FC's development.

Miguel had his professional career debut at Bidvest Wits FC in 2011. He joined Mpumalanga Black Aces FC in 2014. Timm joined the United States Phoenix Rising between 2016 and 2018. He returned to SA and played for Maritzburg United, Chippa United and Maruma Gallants. Miguel won the 2022 MTN 8 with Orlando Pirates. His salary at the club is R120,000 per month.

14. Thabang Monare - R150,000 per month

• Full name: Thabang Amod Monare
• Date of birth: 16 September 1989
• Age: 33 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Thabang was spotted playing for a local academy before AmaTuks FC offered him a chance to debut professionally. The centre midfield later moved to Bidvest Wits for four seasons, culminating in him lifting the Nedbank Cup title and league title.

Thabang Monare moved to Orlando Pirates in 2020, and his unbeatable winning mentality drives his passion to achieve success with the Buccaneers. He earns a monthly salary worth R150,000.

13. Innocent Maela - R150,000 per month

• Full name: Innocent Maela
• Date of birth: 14 August 1992
• Age: 30 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Witbank, South Africa‎

Innocent Maela has become one of the most versatile defenders in the ABSA premier league. He joined the Pirates in 2017 while playing a significant role in the Bafana Bafana team. He walks home with R150,000 after every month, which is about R1.8 million per year.

12. Zakhele Lepasa - R150,000 per month

• Full name: Zakhele Lerato Lepasa
• Date of birth: 19 March 1997
• Age: 26 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Soweto, South Africa

Zakhele Lepasa is a centre forward for the Orlando Pirates and South Africa national team. He began his career at Orlando Pirates in 2018.

He later joined Stellenbosch on loan; after four league appearances, he switched to TS Galaxy. He later returned to Orlando, and his monthly salary is estimated at R150,000.

11. Goodman Mosele - R150,000 per month

• Full name: Goodman Mosele
• Date of birth: 18 November 1999
• Age: 23 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Khuma, South Africa

Probably one of the youngest players in the Premier Soccer League, Goodman Mosele believes he was born to play football. He graduated from the Augusto Palacios Academy in 2017 and joined the Orlando Pirates Development structure.

Mosele made his professional debut in the 2020/2021 season, and his determination to engrave his name in the club's history is insatiable. As a midfielder at Orlando Pirates, Mosele is entitled to a monthly salary of R150,000.

10. Terrence Dzvukamanja - R150,000 per month

• Full name: Terrence Dzvukamanja
• Date of birth: 5 March 1994
• Age: 29 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Chegutu, Zimbabwe

Terrence started his professional football career in 2016. Not long after, he was spotted and signed by Bidvest Wits, making his debut in the South African football scene.

After two years of affiliation with The Clever Boys, Terrence joined Orlando Pirates in 2020. His high ambitions and commitment have significantly contributed to the club's success. Therefore, his monthly salary is R150,000.

9. Bienvenu Eva Nga - R160,000 per month

• Full name: Bienvenu Eva Nga
• Date of birth: 17 February 1993
• Age: 30 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Cameroon

Bienvenu Eva Nga started his football career in Cameroon with the Black Stars. He played for the Gabonese side, GD Maputo and AS Stade Mandji. He later relocated to Mozambique and signed for Liga Portugal 2 side FC Chibuto and ENH de Vilankulo.

Nga subsequently joined Amora and Moçambola club Costa Do Sol in January 2019. He signed for the South African Premier Division side Bidvest Wits in January 2020. Fourteen league appearances and two goals later, he was sold to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila before subsequently joining Chippa United.

Orlando United snapped Nga in the offseason proceeding the 2022/23 campaign. He describes joining the Buccaneers as an exciting career opportunity and plans to put his best foot forward.

As one of the highest-paid players in Orlando Pirates, Bienvenu Eva Nga rakes a decent monthly salary worth R160,000.

8. Thembinkosi Lorch - R165,000 per month

• Full name: Thembinkosi Lorch
• Date of birth: 22 July 1993
• Age: 29 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Bloemfontein, South Africa

How much does Lorch earn? Lorch plays in the midfield for both the Buccaneers and Bafana Bafana. He is a valued member of the Pirate squad. Lorch's salary is estimated to be R165,000 monthly.

In 2019, Thembinkosi Lorch was named the South African Player of the Season. He was also declared Players' Player of the Season.

7. Maliele Vincent Pule - R170,000 per month

• Full name: Maliele Vincent Pule
• Date of birth: 10 March 1992
• Age: 31 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: QwaQwa, Free State, South Africa

Vincent is popularly known as Shuffle. The freekick specialist started his career kicking balls around on the South African streets of QwaQwa. The management of the African Warriors spotted his talent and signed him.

Vincent Pule went on to play for Bidvest Wits for four seasons before signing for Orlando Pirates in 2018. He is doing his part to ensure the Buccaneers are a force to reckon with in the ABSA premier league. Vincent Pule's salary at Pirates is alleged to be R170,000 monthly.

6. Fortune Makaringe - R185,000 per month

• Full name: Fortune Makaringe
• Date of birth: 13 May 1993
• Age: 29 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Johannesburg, South Africa

The midfielder joined the Orlando Pirates from Maritzburg United in 2019. He has been playing for the South African National team since 2018, which proves his wealth of experience. Fortune's annual salary amounts to about R2.22 million. The Buccaneers are currently paying him R185,000 every month.

5. Evidence Makgopa - R200,000 per month

• Full name: Evidence Makgopa
• Date of birth: 5 June 2000
• Age: 23 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: GaMampa, South Africa

Evidence Makgopa plays as centre-forward for Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team. Evidence played for South Africa's under-23 team in the 2020 Summer Olympics. He first played for the Baroka in 2018. Evidence Makgopa's salary is alleged to be R200,000 per month.

4. Wayne Sandilands - R250,000 per month

• Full name: Wayne Sandilands
• Date of birth: 23 August 1983
• Age: 39 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa

Wayne Sandilands' football career as a goalkeeper spans close to two decades. He spoke highly of the new opportunity during his first news conference after joining Orlando Pirates. He also mentioned how pressuring wearing the black and white uniform would be.

Wayne Sandilands has several championships, including the CAF Championships League and the Absa Premiership titles, thanks to his dexterity. He enjoys a monthly salary of R250,000.

Even though he seems to be at the tail end of his career, Wayne is working on his way up to becoming a goalkeeper coach for Orlando Pirates. He recently got his goalkeeper coaching qualification.

3. Richard Ofori - R300,000 per month

• Full name: Richard Ofori
• Date of birth: 1 November 1993
• Age: 29 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Accra, Ghana

Although a goalkeeper, Richard Ofori is one of the highest-paid members of the Buccaneers. The 29-year-old Ghanaian joined the team in 2020 from Maritzburg United. He signed a three-year deal with a monthly salary of about R300,000.

2. Kermit Erasmus - R350,000 per month

• Full name: Kermit Romeo Erasmus
• Date of birth: 8 July 1990
• Age: 32 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Kermit Erasmus began his professional career in 2007 with SuperSport United. He spent two seasons in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Excelsior before returning to SuperSport United.

On 23 September 2022, he returned to Orlando Pirates on a two-year deal from Mamelodi Sundowns. Kermit Erasmus' salary is alleged to be R350,000 per month. He is the second highest-paid player at Orlando Pirates in 2023.

1. Deon Hotto Kavendji - R500,000 per month

• Full name: Deon Hotto Kavendji
• Date of birth: 29 October 1990
• Age: 32 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Swakopmund, Namibia

Who is the most-paid player in Pirates? Deon Hotto is a Namibian footballer and one of the most valuable South African Premier League footballers, which his salary reflects. He is dubbed as one of the highest-paid soccer players in South Africa.

The Pirates offered to give him over double his R200,000 monthly salary at Bidvest Wits. Hence, every month, Deon takes home R500,000. This translates into R6 million yearly.

What is Monnapule Saleng's salary?

Monnapule receives a monthly salary of R70,000. He began his career in the SAFA Second Division with Orbit College. He joined the Orlando Pirates in 2021, left on loan, and then returned to the Pirates for the 2022-23 season.

How much is Orlando Pirates FC worth?

Orlando Pirates FC is considered one of the richest football clubs in South Africa, with a net worth of approximately R325.9 million. As one of the giant clubs in the country, Orlando Pirates has won several leagues, including the Premier Soccer League four times, National Soccer League once and the National Professional Soccer League four times as well.

The highest-paid player in Orlando Pirates takes home a good sum. The squad competes in the Premier Soccer League, South Africa's top-tier football league.

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