SA Football Association (Safa) chief executive Dennis Mumble has revealed that the delay in appointing the new Banyana Banyana coach is due to the unavailability of the candidates they had earmarked for the post.

The post was left vacant by the departure of Vera Pauw in August last year and Desiree Ellis has been caretaker coach ever since.

"The reason for the hold-up is that the candidates that were selected by our technical task team [which is] responsible for the appointment of coaches, were unavailable,'' said Mumble on the sidelines of the Sasol League National Championships launch and draw at Safa House yesterday.

Asked if Ellis met Safa's requirements to get the job on a full-time basis, Mumble said she is yet to produce her technical report and they will take it from there.

The tournament will be played at Kabokweni Stadium in Mpumalanga from December 4- 9.

GroupsGroup A: De Scorpions (NW), Sunflowers (KZN), CPT Roses (Western Cape).Group B: Coal City Wizards (MP), RC Mills (NC) and Thunderbirds (EC).Group C: Celtic (F State), Sundowns Ladies (GP), Kanatla/Ma-Indies (Limpopo).