Stalled contract negotiations cast doubt on Desiree Ellis’ availability for WAFCON qualifiers

This is despite the recommendation from the SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Mbombela last week, which approved a new four-year contract for her. 

SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao revealed to SABC Sport that there is still disagreement between Ellis and FA on the terms of her new deal.

"Now, we are ready to go but obviously now we have the qualifiers, we are so close and we don't have a contract, we don't have a signed contract yet. So, obviously as administration it kind of puts us on the back foot because we are under pressure now to make sure that things are done timeously and we might miss some deadlines but eventually I think it's really key that we have that contract signed at the end of the day,” Monyepao said. 

“I can't comment whether she will be in camp or not because we have not signed yet, we are still working on signing the contract."

READ: Nick Bester blasts Cape Town Marathon organizers over race cancellation

SABC Sport understands that Ellis is yet to agree to the contract put on the table by SAFA, as it doesn’t talk to the achievements she’s made in the last nine years with Banyana Banyana.  

Ellis’ contract with SAFA expired after the Olympic qualifiers in July last year, and since then, she has been operating on a month-to-month contract. 

Monyepao couldn’t answer why it took this long for Ellis to be offered a new long-term contract.

"Coach Desiree's contract expired last year and it was a matter of the technical committee putting a recommendation to the NEC in terms of, are we reappointing her or are we looking for somebody else,” the CEO explained. 

“I don't get involved in the appointment, I can't talk on that but obviously us as administration we are guided by the decisions of the NEC. Now, the recommendation was taken to the NEC and it was approved."

Banyana go into camp today and play the first leg in Kinshasa on Wednesday, with the return leg scheduled for the 28th of this month at FNB Stadium. 

The winner of this tie will qualify for the WAFCON in Morocco in February next year, where the semifinalists will qualify directly to the 2026 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. 

Two additional teams will take part in the intercontinental playoffs.