Plans to appoint a new coach for the South African national team by the end of this week may not take place.

Gordon Igesund and Pitso Mosimane, the two frontrunners for the post, will be staying with their clubs.

Igesund, who won the South African championship with Santos last season, was recently appointed as coach of Ajax Cape Town.

Trott Moloto, Ephraim Mashaba, Boebie Wiliams and the unheralded Khabo Zondo, who was an assistant coach with South Africa's World Cup team, remain on the shortlist.

They are to be interviewed by the South Africa football association (Safa) on Monday.

But Safa's chief operating officer Albert Mokoena said that they might still appoint a foreigner as coach if none of the candidates are suitable for the job.