New Mamelodi Sundowns Sporting Director Flemming Berg has explained why he left his flourishing project at the Danish Football Association (DBU) for a new challenge in South Africa.
Berg has earned widespread plaudits in Danish media for his overhaul of the international and domestic scene in the country in his role as the Development Manager of the DBU over the past seven years.
And Sundowns managed to secure his services upon the expiry of his contract last month as the Denmark national team now prepares for their second consecutive FIFA World Cup and have reached the last four of the UEFA European Championship last year.
When asked by iDiski Times why he would leave his home country where the DBU is now embarking on one of the most promising phases of their football history over the last two decades for Sundowns, Berg said the lure of the Masandawana project is something that intrigues him.
“We have had a fantastic period with Denmark. I started there seven years ago and one of the things that we started from the beginning was building a strong relationship with all the stakeholders within the country, between the Federation, the clubs, the media, all the different stakeholders in the club, and we have done really, really well on that and it’s important for me that I say we I know that I have in the media that you know I’ve been given an A lot of credit for it,” he said at his unveiling at Chloorkop on Monday afternoon.
“But we, we are so many people working hard on this, you know that the coaches, the youth coaches, the senior coaches, the management, everyone around it. So I feel I leave the Danish Federation on a fantastic platform where the Danish Federation can grow even more. But for me, it’s the timing is really, really good. I feel that now, the platform is there.
“So now it’s to take advantage of it bringing more things into the Danish Federation, and I’m sure that they will do very, very good in the future. Because one thing I fantastic question and I really liked that you have done your research on it, but it’s not a golden generation, we have many generations to come. And we are going, to be able to compete on the highest level for a lot of years in Denmark to come.
“So for me, the timing was actually very good and when I was contacted by by by the chairman and the senior management around Mamelodi Sundowns and started looking into the club and the possibilities here, it was for me an opportunity where I could see okay; here I can come and make a difference for the club and for South African football in general.
“And it was just so intriguing. For me, it was a fantastic opportunity, and that we could make it happen made me so proud and happy. So I think the timing is just right. And I like that I walk out the front door. And I come in here out in on the front door, where the club is doing really, really well. I think the timing is actually excellent. You should not wait, doing good things until bad things happen.”
“Here I can and make a difference for the club and SA football in general.”
Asked the new @Masandawana SD why he left his flourishing 🇩🇰 #DBU project to come to South Africa. pic.twitter.com/d5EmPZaAZr
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) April 4, 2022
