Playing in South Africa can be a life-changing financial move for players across the continent. Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Anthony Akumu has shed light on just how rewarding his two-year stay at Naturena was.
Despite struggling to make a lasting impression on the pitch, the Kenyan international secured the most lucrative deal of his career when he moved to the Premier Soccer League.
A Deal Hard to Resist
Akumu joined Amakhosi from Zambian club Zesco United. His former club attempted to keep him by offering Ksh500,000 per month. However, that figure could not match the contract presented by the Soweto giants.
The South African side offered him a starting monthly salary of Ksh1.5 million. That figure translated to roughly R192,000 per month at the time.
In addition to his monthly earnings, Akumu disclosed that his contract included substantial annual payouts. He received Ksh8 million (around R1 million) every year, split into two equal installments paid in February and September.
On-Field Struggles and Financial Rewards
During his time at Naturena, Akumu managed only two goals in 34 league appearances. The two parties eventually agreed to part ways in 2022 before his contract ran out.
His spell highlights a broader pattern in South African football. Big clubs often invest heavily in foreign talent, but high financial commitments do not always translate into performance on the pitch. Chiefs have seen similar struggles with other foreign signings like Jasond Gonzalez and Christian Saile.
This season, the club maintained a more cautious approach in the transfer market, adding Tanzanian player Adolft Mtasingwa as their sole foreign signee.
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Source: thesouthafrican.com