Former Mamelodi Sundowns winger George Lebese has given fans a fascinating peek into the club’s lucrative incentive structure during their dominant era, revealing how match bonuses often made salaries feel like an afterthought.
“In our Sundowns days, nobody stressed about base salaries,” Lebese confessed in a recent interview. “Every victory meant R7,000 in our pockets. When you’re winning 3-4 games monthly, you’d already have R21k-R28k before payday even arrived.”
The ex-Kaizer Chiefs star emphasized how substantial these earnings were in the 2018 economic climate: “That was serious money back then – more than enough to cover all monthly expenses with comfort. The system kept us hungry to win every time we stepped on the pitch.”
Lebese’s revelation highlights the ambitious performance culture cultivated during Pitso Mosimane’s trophy-laden tenure, where the Brazilians dominated both domestically and continentally. His comments have sparked debate among fans about modern PSL players’ compensation structures and motivation tactics.
The 34-year-old, who retired in 2022 after stints in the US and Sweden, added: “That Sundowns mentality wasn’t just about money – it was about building winners. But those bonuses sure helped everyone stay focused!”
*Do you think current PSL clubs should adopt similar heavy performance-based payment models? Share your views in the comments.*