In a candid interview, former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Josta Dladla revealed how club owner Patrice Motsepe took bold and unconventional steps to transform the club and the lives of its players—going as far as chastising them for driving modest vehicles despite earning lucrative salaries.
Dladla, who donned the famous yellow and blue kit for five years, recalled how Motsepe’s takeover of Sundowns from the Tsichlas family in 2004 marked a turning point not only for the club but for South African football as a whole. Motsepe, a mining magnate and one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals, had a clear ambition: to turn Mamelodi Sundowns into the continent’s footballing powerhouse.
Breaking the Salary Barrier
“From the moment he took over, Mr. Motsepe wanted to elevate Sundowns to be the biggest club in Africa,” Dladla said during an appearance on the George Mokoena Podcast on YouTube. “He didn’t just invest in players—he changed the entire culture.”
Dladla explained that before Motsepe’s arrival, footballers in South Africa were generally underpaid, with top earners receiving salaries as low as R15,000 or R20,000. Motsepe broke that ceiling, offering salaries as high as R200,000—a move that ruffled feathers within football’s old guard. “He didn’t care what the critics said,” Dladla added. “He understood that our football careers are short, and the money we make in ten years has to sustain us for the rest of our lives.”
“Don’t Drive That!” — Patrice Motsepe’s Demand for High Standards
But Motsepe’s vision wasn’t just about fat paychecks—it was about presentation and lifestyle too. According to Dladla, the billionaire expected players to look the part. He once publicly scolded former player Surprise Moriri for showing up at training in a Toyota Conquest.
“He’d ask, ‘Whose car is that?’ and when we told him it was Surprise’s, he’d shout, ‘I’m paying you too much to drive a car like that!’” Dladla recalled with a laugh.
Eventually, Moriri upgraded to an Audi A3, but the Conquest reportedly stayed parked at the training ground—serving as a humorous reminder of Motsepe’s high standards.
Encouraging Smart Investments
Motsepe wasn’t just concerned with how his players looked or what they drove—he was deeply invested in their long-term financial well-being. According to Dladla, the mining magnate often emphasized the importance of financial literacy and stability beyond the pitch.
He regularly encouraged players to make wise choices with their earnings, particularly in buying property and securing their futures. “He would remind us that the money we’re making now needs to last a lifetime,” Dladla said. “He’d say, ‘Don’t just spend it all on cars and clothes—buy a house, invest in something real.’” Motsepe’s insistence on smart money management stood in sharp contrast to the spending habits commonly seen in football, where many players end up struggling financially after retirement.
His philosophy aimed to break that cycle, urging players to think like professionals not just on the field but off it too. Under his leadership, players began to see themselves not just as athletes, but as assets who needed to plan for life after football. This mindset shift helped foster a culture of responsibility and ambition, both at Sundowns and throughout South African football.
A Lasting Legacy in South African Football
Patrice Motsepe’s approach may have raised eyebrows at the time, but his commitment to excellence and his desire to professionalize the sport set a new benchmark in South African football. His leadership helped Mamelodi Sundowns evolve into a dominant force not only locally, but on the African continent—culminating in their CAF Champions League triumph in 2016.
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