S'Busiso Mseleku and Daniel Mothowagae

Johannesburg - A City Press survey has revealed that the highest paid coach in the Premier Soccer League is on a ­package of about R6 million a year - he earns about R500 000 per month.

While none of the club bosses nor coaches approached could speak willingly on the subject, we have established that coaches at the 16 premiership clubs can be divided into four distinct ­categories.

Topping the list are the four ­foreign coaches who are in charge of Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town, in no particular order.

The quartet earn packages of ­between R350 000 - R500 000 per month, due to the fact that they calculate their ­packages in euros and dollars.

Their packages include housing allowances which a reliable and highly-placed source said are ­"usually three-bedroom townhouses that cost between R12 000 and R20 000 per month to rent", a luxury sedan and win bonuses.

"Win bonuses in PSL clubs range between R2 000 per league match while some clubs even pay their coaches a win bonus of ­between R8 000 - R10 000 per match."

Our source added that some coaches demand a 10% cut of the prize money on winning a cup and 5% when they lose in the final.

The second tier of coaches earn between R150 000 and R250 000, a third get paid from R100 000 to R130 000, while the lowest earning coaches' salary scale is between R50 000 and R80 000.

According to our research, Downs, Chiefs, Pirates and Ajax coaches would be in the top bracket followed by Moroka ­Swallows, ­SuperSport United, AmaZulu, Free State Stars, Bidvest Wits and ­Lamontville Golden Arrows on the second tier.

Platinum Stars and newly-promoted Black Leopards will be on the third rung, while the basement will be occupied by ­Maritzburg United, Bloemfontein Celtic, ­Santos and Jomo Cosmos.

Chiefs' boss Kaizer ­Motaung said: "This is a private matter between the club and coach and it would be unethical to reveal figures in public."

He said accommodation and a car were standard arrangements as their coaches came from ­outside the country.

"We arrange accommodation for players who come from outside SA or out of town as well."

After engaging the similar dribbling skills that left defenders bemused during his playing days, ­ Cosmos' boss Jomo Sono came out with this classic: "I've never discussed my salary even as a player. But I can tell you that the Cosmos chairman Mr ­Jomo Sono is paying the coach Matsilele Ephraim Sono R50 000 a month, which he cut to ­R10 000 when the coach got the club relegated."

Pirates' official Floyd Mbele said: "The figures vary from club to club as foreign coaches put their proposals in their country's currency."

He concurred on car and accommodation ­allowances.

SuperSport's mentor Gavin Hunt said: "I don't think I am the highest paid. I can't talk about what I earn in the press but ­foreign coaches are paid more."

The club's commercial manager Jose Ferreira said: "We pay our coaches based on the expertise and the qualities they bring.They are not the highest paid and certainly not the lowest paid."

Jason Raine, Platinum Stars general manager, said: "I can't comment on other people's salaries because it is highly confidential."

Aiki Augousti, of Celtic said: "We are definitely not in the same market as Chiefs, Sundowns or ­Pirates. But we are well within the R70 000 to R100 000 range. Wits coach Roger de Sa said: "I can't complain because the board is very understanding. Put it (my salary) around R2 million a year and this excludes bonuses."

Ajax PRO Thabiso Mekuto said: "We are in the R200 000-plus bracket. If that is where the top paying clubs are, then we are in the same market."

Arrows' boss Mato Madlala was non-committal: "People's salaries are private and confidential."

David Thidiela, whose Leopards were said to have doubled Sunday Chidzambwa's salary after he promoted the club, said this was "a sensitive issue but I pay with a smile", while his coach said they were still negotiating a new deal.

Philani Mabaso of AmaZulu said his club paid "competitive" salaries that included match, cup and league position bonuses as determined by the board.

FS Stars' boss Mike Mokoena said his club also paid coaches signing-on fees, transport, accommodation and "a good package".

Swallows' Leon Prins, Younus Kadodia from Maritzburg and coach Ian Palmer could not be reached, while Gordon Igesund ­refused to comment.