ZAMBIA soccer skipper Christopher Katongo has been ranked among Africa’s top paid sportsmen, according to the latest figures from ESPN The Magazine’s Money Issue salary survey project. Katongo, who guided the Chipolopolo to a historic 2012 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, reaps about a modest $458 000 (about K2.3 billion) annually.
According to Supersport.com, Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan is Africa’s highest paid sportsman, earning about $16 million yearly while Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o gets in the range of $13.3 million.
The list is likely to draw controversy, as other financial reports had placed Ivorian star Yaya Toure at the top of the list. However, this
list comprises the earnings that represent salary and/or prize money from the 2011 calendar year or most recent season.
ESPN’s survey says Yaya Toure receives $15.4 million, Angola’s Manucho gets $865,579 with Malawian soccer player, Tamika Mkandawire earning $571 000 while Mali’s Frederic Kanoute reaps $8.6 million.
Due to confidentiality of information for certain players, official salary figures were not available. In that case, ESPN used earnings that were based on information from multiple sources including leagues, agents, sports federations, cultural centers and the United
Nations.
The Black Stars player shares the ‘title’ with Liberia’s Tamba Hali, who plays American football as an outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Togolese talisman Emmanuel Adebayor also reaps about $13.3 million with South Africa’s Steven Pienaar picking up $4.2 million while Egyptians Mohammed Zidan and Mohamed Abu Treika each pocket $2.5 million.
Worldwide, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi keeps his status as football’s highest earner. He has bagged earnings of $43.5 million yearly – that’s from wages, bonuses, sponsorships and endorsements.
Nearly half a million, not bad!
Lets aim higher, this will lead to more investement in future.
eto is highest paid 20m euros before endorsements ba LT!
Katongo that’s the way.Shhhh don’t kubeba!
A natural Leader!!
Natural leader but his wasting his career in China!!
Awesome, that makes me very proud… Mayuka, Mbola, Kampamba, Kola and company will soon be breathing down his neck!! This is a new golden era of Zambian football!
This stream of boys will be a proud to the nation. They need all the guidance nd our prayers. No more celebrities waliking in tropicals in future.
This Grade 12 guy earns more than a PhD holder! What is the point of going to university when you can earn more kicking a leather ball around after Grade 12!
you must be a (PHD pull him down) holder !!
Some PhD holder’s can’t kick a ball. That makes a very big difference.
sport has a short lifespan so thats why he may earn more than a PHD holder, but knowledge is forever and valuable.
buy a zambian club with that money lets build another man city in zambia lol. zambian footballers should make money aswell.
@MaxMbizo you must be a (PHD pull him down) holder !!
We are moving at good pase. This is encouraging! from zero to hero!
What Chris earns in a year Yaya Toure earns in less than 14 weeks…so long as the sleepy FAZ does not get organised our players will forever waste their careers and always accept being second best.Â
As regards to wages though its what you do with your wages in your short career that counts..Â
Am happy for him and Zambia. Even in USA sportmen get more than PHD holders .we should encourage others to work hard and be like Kenyans who make million just by running marathons.Education should not be the only key to success. Microsoft founder did not finish his degree but is one of the richest man on the planet
not anymore! has been number two for more than 2 years now..Mexican Carlos Slim is number one on the planet!
not anymore! gates has been number two for more than 2 years now..Mexican Carlos Slim is number one on the planet!
Chansa the man said Bill Gates is one of the richest men on the planet and not the richest. Please learn to read properly before you comment, hence your point is actually pointless now
Ba Chansa mulibapuba
Good for him. This goes to show that although tertiary education is necessary in general, when it comes to real success it is your attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude.
what abt Drogba…?
Drogba is in the £100K plus per week I think…
There’s money in the game, oh! When other guys go out for party, these boys sacrifice their time & energy training hard to be where they are. It takes a lot to stay on top of the game and become a wealthy and successful player. Ask Messi.
A big, big salute to Chris, especially for the unconquered spirit he displayed during the Afcon tournament. The sky is the limit!
This is great gogo zambia.But what about Eto ba LT lol
But what about Eto ba LT.
Lets go zambia chris u will pass him
I hear you guys. Life has it’s own rules. When I was finishing my grade 12 at St. edmund’s in Mazabuka, a Mr. Mwiinga used to tell us, “Boys, it’s not so much what you have (School Leaver’s Certificate) but what you will do with what you have that will make you successful in life.”
@chills, yeah i know, and a mr paul at the same shool used to tell us that when i was there
This is sad for sure just $450,000, always us Zambians are the least in everything. Will Zambia produce any $million winning sports person? Best is to go for Boxing, but diet is a barrier.
Not among the top eaners in africa coz all african players who play 4 chelsea get far beyond What chris gets thats drogbas 2 weeks salary, i can tell tell is not even among the top 100 eaners in africa.
The young man deserves it though at his level he ought to be paid even more.
@ MaxMbizo #3!! You Zambians think once you get a PhD (in useless studies) the money will come rolling as you sit on your a**?? If you watch American and European PhD holders you will see that they are hard at work putting out productive results that are also profitable! Leave my Grade 12 hard worker alone!!!
Let us say Chris
Is one of the highest paid Zambians. The Malawian guy gets more than him.
First bloggers shud sit down and analyse how much u earn per year. Maybe its less than K40 000 000, wth your degrees, this is around $8, 000 annually. Muletasha tekulalembafye icilembelembe. If I had a chance of earning that kind of money even for a year alone I would do wonders. Thumbs up Chris
thn whts th point of u askng a house frm the gvt whn u cn earn
 more than 2billion.
well done, but aim higher the sky being the limit.
Kutasha fye bane shingi sana isho.I get k2,500,000 per month as my salary which is k30,000,000 per year nomba ninshi nalapontela someone who can even employ and pay me more than my company pays me.A difference of k2,270,000,000 sure!. Chris,keep it up.
I doubt if the list is accurate?
the author just wanted to say something and a bit on Chris. He has kudos but hey he does not go on the list of top paid African players. Beckam is not even mentioned. Where does Chris play.
Guys, Pipo. Money is in entertainment. Look at how footballers, musicians earn outside the country. One Album they become multi millionaires. Money is not in education but in entertainment. Cause even the educated want to go out for entertainment. Mike Tyson used to earn $10m minimum for a fight with journeymen. Bill Gates is 2nd richest Man in the world due to entertainment. Microsoft and all ipods etc. However Education will give u status.
more money in the sportsman’s pocket, more money in the porn industry and less money in the PHD & degree holders. start kicking balls now!
why would Chriss continue playing for chinese team? are there no other credible team to play for in Europe
Bakaamba icalo kukosafye . Let’s us jjst understend our stuetion.
Education gives a lot of money but entertainment makes the heaviest pocket of perfect cash!
Ebusuma. Ifi our sports men are among such classes of people ninshi tuleya pantashi as a country. Nomba apa we also want these upcoming players to aim higher and put our country Zambia on the map..