SAFA shortlist Shilene Booysen and Simphiwe Dludlu for Banyana jobs

According to reliable SABC Sport sources, coaches Shilene Booysen and Simphiwe Dludlu have been earmarked for the positions of technical advisor and opposition scout respectively, which would beef up Desiree Ellis’ bench. 

Ellis helped the national side clinch a second successive qualification for the global showpiece in July last year when Banyana made it to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a tournament that they ultimately won by beating the hosts. 

On Friday last week, SAFA technical director Walter Steenbok confirmed to the media that the federation was going to make the two appointments, but did not mention any names during the press conference. 

It’s believed part of this is due to Booysen still being contracted to South Sudan as head coach, although their agreement is soon to expire, making her available. 

Dludlu is the current national under-17 coach and stood in for Ellis at last year’s COSAFA Women's Championships in Gqeberha, where she led a young Banyana side to the final while their older counterparts played in friendly matches against Brazil in Johannesburg and Durban. 

Indications are that talks are ongoing, with rigorous debates over what their roles would look like and entail ahead of the upcoming World Cup, and the fact that Banyana will soon go into camp to prepare for the tournament. 

South Africa has been drawn against Sweden, Italy and Argentina in Group G, and their opening game is on 23 July at the Wellington Stadium in New Zealand.

The announcement of these appointments – should all the finer details be ironed out – is expected sometime next month before Ellis and the team participate in the Cyprus Women's Cup.