An iconic South African footballer, Thulani Hlatshwayo is reportedly worth about $2 million (over R30 million). The defender currently plays for Orlando Pirates and is said to be earning a monthly salary of R300,000. Thus, the footballer ranks among the highest-paid players at the franchise. Nicknamed Tyson for his strong defensive displays on the field, Thulani began playing football in his teens, and in the last few years, he has been associated with some of the most successful clubs in the Premier Soccer League, including Bidvest Wits FC.
Thulani Hlatshwayo Earned an Annual Salary of R1.8 Million at Bidvest Wits
The pro footballer started his career at the youth academy of Senaone Gunners FC. He then spent four years playing with Ajax Cape Town youth academy before getting promoted to the club’s senior team. On August 5th, 2009, he made his first appearance with Ajax Cape Town senior team in a match against Orlando Pirates which the team won 2-1. He made his professional debut during the 2009 MTN 8 quarter final match held at the Johannesburg-based Coca-Cola Park. Thulani Hlatshwayo played a total of 96 PSL games with the franchise and scored 2 goals in all appearances.
He also played with the team in five Telkom Knockout games. The skilled defender made 109 appearances for the franchise, scoring two goals in all. He equally provided two assists before signing a pre-contract with Bidvest Wits FC in 2014. He joined the club on July 1st, 2014 and soon after, he became the club’s fan-favorite following his outstanding performances on the field. He spent six years at the Johannesburg-based franchise during which Thulani Hlatshwayo reportedly earned a monthly salary of R150,000 which accumulated to an annual salary of R1.8 million. He made his debut for the franchise in MTN 8 Cup match against Bloemfontein Celtic on August 1st, 2014 which Bidvest Wits won via penalty kick out.
Tyson moved on to score 18 goals in the 140 PSL game appearances he made with the team. He also found the back of the net once in a total of 8 games he played in the Nedbank Cup competition. Additionally, he played 9 games in the Telkom Knockout competition, as well as 12 MTN 8 games, 3 CAF Champions League games, and 8 CAF Confederation Cup matches. Before joining Orlando Pirates in September 2020, the classy defender won the 2016/2017 Premier Soccer League title with the club, as well as MTN 8 Cup (2016/2017) and League Cup (2017/2018). The Clever Boys also finished as the PSL title runner-up in the 2015/2016 season. Thulani scored 20 goals and provided 7 assists in the 180 total games he played for Bidvest Wits FC.
What Is His Current Salary at Orlando Pirates?
During his stint at Bidvest, Thulani Hlatshwayo became one of the most expensive assets of the franchise as he was sought after by highly-rated PSL clubs such as Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. Consequently, he was offered a contract extension by the franchise in 2019, and in the following year, he left Bidvest to join the Buccaneers on September 21st, 2020. Although the details of the contract and its worth have not been made public knowledge, the elite South African footballer is currently worth about €1.30 million (R29.1 million) in the transfer market. Thulani Hlatshwayo reportedly earns R300,000 in salary per month and thus, pockets R3.6 million per annum at his current club.
He ranks as the second-highest-paid player at the club, behind Deon Hotto Kavendji, who reportedly pockets a monthly salary of R500,000. Tyson has thus far played 39 games for the franchise, scoring once. He scored the opening goal for the team in the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup match against Galaxy on February 2nd, 2021. He has also played in the Nedbank Cup and MTN 8 competitions with the team, winning the latter in the 2020/2021 season.
Highlights of Thulani Hlatshwayo’s Salary Milestones
- Bidvest Wits (2014-2020) – R150,000/Month
- Orlando Pirates (2020-present) – R300,000/Month
He Has Been The Captain of South Africa’s National Football Team For Several Years
Throughout his pro career, Hlatshwayo has represented his home country on several occasions. He has been named to the Bafana Bafana squad 54 times and among the starting eleven, 47 times. Since 2016, the right-footed football player has been the Captain of the South Africa national team. He first played with the U17 national team before being promoted to the SA U20 team. He later played with the U23 national team and then debuted as a member of the senior team on July 13th, 2013. He has made over 40 appearances with the senior team and scored four goals in all.
The Orlando Pirates defender was among the goalscorers in South Africa’s 6-0 thrashing of Seychelles during the AFCON qualification game in October 2018. So far, he has represented his nation in 20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games, 7 Africa Cup of Nations matches, 5 World Cup qualifying games, and 18 International friendly games. He made his recent outing with the squad as the captain in the Africa Cup of Nations group stage match against Suda, played on March 28th, 2021 and the team lost 2:0. The adept defender played as a center-back in the match. He also plays as a left-back and right-back for the SA national team.
Besides Salaries, Thulani Hlatshwayo Increases His Net Worth With Earnings From Endorsement Deals
In addition to earning a hefty monthly salary, Thulani Hlatshwayo has increased his total wealth with earnings from his lucrative endorsement deals with prestigious brands, including Adidas. He has been serving as a brand ambassador for the giant sportswear company since his spell at Bidvest Wits FC. During this time, he also penned a car sponsorship deal with Volkswagen Constantia Kloof. As a result, Hlatshwayo has been gifted customized Volkswagen cars on many occasions. He renewed his contract with the automobile company in 2019 and was recently handed the latest model of VW Golf GTD. Tyson further has an endorsement deal with Avalife South Africa. However, how much he earns from the paid partnerships is unavailable.
The Footballer’s House Is Located In Johannesburg
With an annual salary of over R1.5 million, it’s no surprise that Thulani Hlatshwayo owns a luxury home in one of the hottest cities in South Africa. He lives with his family in a mansion located in Roodeport, Johannesburg. The house is said to be worth millions of rands as it has top-notch interior furnishing, as well as modern amenities like an indoor gym, a sizeable garage, and a swimming pool. Tyson’s mansion also boasts a large backyard and veranda with a stunning view.
What is Thulani Hlatshwayo’s Most Expensive Car?
It’s no longer news that the former Ajax Cape Town player leads a modest lifestyle. Unlike his colleagues who constantly add to their car collections, Thulani has been seen with the same cars for several years now. Thanks to his car sponsorship with VW Constantia Kloof, his car collection boasts of the latest model of Volkswagen Golf cars in addition to his Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (est. R700,000)
Often seen with a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on his Instagram handle, Thulani Hlatshwayo’s exotic car is valued at over R700,000. The car is available in five colors – black, firecracker red, granite crystal, bright white, and stingy grey.
Features:
- Multi-function steering wheel
- 8-speed gearbox
- Battery capacity: 700amp
- Anti-lock braking system
- Alloy wheels
- Engine start-stop button
Volkswagen Golf GTD (est. R600,000)
Worth over R600,000, Bafana Bafana captain owns the latest model of Volkswagen Golf GTD. Following his car sponsorship with VW Constantia Kloof, he has been riding customized models of the luxurious brand as he often uploads pictures of himself with the car on social media platforms.
Features:
- An automatic post-collision braking system
- Touch screen
- Automatic climate control system
- Bi-xenon headlights
- 2.0L diesel engine
- Speed: 0kmph-62kmph in 7.5 seconds
Volkswagen Golf GTI (est. R600,000)
Thulani Hlatshwayo’s career success has additionally offered him the privilege of riding Volkswagen Golf GTI valued at over R600,000. As part of his car sponsorship deal with VW Constantia Kloof, the car was handed to him by the automobile company in November 2018.
Features:
- 1.8L TSI petrol engine
- 7-speed gearbox
- Turbocharger
- Displacement: 1798 cc
- Automatic climate control
- Speed: 0kmph-100kmph in 7.2 seconds
