In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, ex-Orlando Pirates striker Bruce Ramokadi shares his thoughts on the salaries of players in the PSL, stating that the amounts some clubs are paying simply don't make sense.
Ramokadi believes that no player should be earning a million rand per month in South Africa.
Who did you sign for when you received your first pay cheque?
"I signed for Orlando Pirates in 1994. They are both my first and last club, as I was part of their development program."
How much was your first pay cheque?
"It was R800. The following month, after scoring in my first game, my salary was immediately raised to R1,500. We beat Tembisa Classic in the Bob Save tournament, they were still competing in the lower leagues at that time."
How did you celebrate your first salary?
"My first pay cheque came in cash, inside an envelope. I sent all of it home."
Did you buy anything for yourself?
"I only did that with my second pay cheque. I was still in school at that time, so I wasn't focused on spending money on myself. Plus, I had to help take care of my siblings financially. The money I earned was a significant relief for my parents."
How much do you think you'd be earning if you were still playing?
"I hear that players are earning up to a million rand in today's football. Some say it's true, while others dispute it. I'm not sure what to believe. My last and highest salary during my playing career was R15,000, which I earned at Pirates.
"But to me, the whole situation doesn't make sense. How can a PSL club player earn R1 million per month when the champions of our league are only awarded R20 million? It means one player would be taking R12 million out of that total."