Mamelodi Sundowns’ participation in the inaugural African Football League
(AFL) could make the club a lucrative destination for players, as each
member of the squad could be an instant millionaire at the end of the
season.
The Brazilians have previously made it known, from their official website,
that it is club policy for players to share the prize money of
competitions they participate in, with the staff rewarded separately.
Reports suggest that players get 80% of the share and the head coach and
technical team share the remaining 20%.
The advent of the AFL has raised the stakes significantly, on what the
club and in particular players at Sundowns could earn. The Tshwane giants
are already guaranteed R31,7 million for reaching the semi-finals of the
African Super League. Should they progress to the final, their prize money
would rise to R56 million and they will get R75 million for winning the
tournament.
CAF also announced a 46% percent increase in prize money for the CAF
Champions League. As things stand, the Tshwane giants are now guaranteed
$700, 000 (+-R13 million) for reaching the group stages of the CAF
Champions League and as one of the favourites to reach the quarter-finals,
their prize money could increase to $900, 000 (+- R16, 8 million).
Reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions has a prize money of $1,2
million (+- R22,4 million) and Sundowns could get $2 million (R37 million)
for making it to the final. The CAF Champions League also has a winners
prize of $4 million (R75 million).
Just factoring in what each member of the squad could earn, from the
current stages of the competitions Sundowns are in (AFL and CAF Champions
League), the total money is roughly R45 million and with a squad of 30 odd
registered players, each player could already be guaranteed just over R1
million.
Other factors will come into play, like the high possibility of winning
the Premiership, with the Nedbank Cup still to play for and the
possibility of progressing further in the stages of the African Football
League and CAF Champions League. Each Sundowns player, at the end of the
season, could earn on upward of R2 million at the very least, not even
factoring winning either the AFL, CAF Champions League or the Nedbank Cup.
