South Africa could be forced to pull out of Southern Africa's Cosafa Cup unless they are allowed to postpone their quarter-final against Malawi in 10 days time.

The South African FA were writing to Cosafa's secretary-general Ashford Mamelodi on Wednesday asking for the match on 19 May to be rescheduled because they will be unable to field a team on that weekend.

Fixture congestion, caused by the Ellis Park stadium disaster last month, has seen a full programme of domestic league fixtures scheduled for the same weekend.

Many of the matches are crucial to both the South African championship chase and the battle against relegation.

Free weekend

The South Africa FA want the match against Malawi to be played in July instead when there is a free weekend on the calendar.

The issue is now before the organising committee of the annual competition, who are to decide in the next 24 hours whether to grant South Africa's request.

They are in something of a bind, however though because they cannot be seen to be bending over too far to help the South Africans, who have not actually shown much commitment to the tournament in the past.

For the last three years, South Africa have persisted in playing an under strength side in the event, which the other nine competitors have seen as a slap in the face.

South African officials, in fact, asked to play their match against Malawi on 19 May when the quarter-final draw was made in Maputo last month.

May date was requested

They were given an option of dates and Safa vice president Ruben Mahlalela asked for the first available date, the weekend of 19-20 May.

He has since be castigated by Safa president Molefi Oliphant and chief executive officer Danny Jordaan, who said he did not know what he was doing.

But that then begs the question: Why did he attend the draw in Mozambique on Safa's behalf?

The Cosafa organisers also have to consider they cannot afford to allow South Africa to withdraw or be kicked out because it will diminish the stature of the competition and displease the sponsors, a South African brewing company.

The regional competition has limited dates available to it because it cannot clash with World Cup qualifying, African Nations Cup qualifying nor African club competition dates under agreement with Fifa and Caf.