sportskeeda
Flemming Berg, the sporting director of Mamelodi Sundowns, has shared his perspectives on the decision-making process at Chloorkop, where he often encounters allegations of being the chief decision-maker.
The Danish official faced criticism when the club unexpectedly terminated its relationship with Rulani Mokwena following an alleged internal conflict between them, even after Mokwena had led the team to a record-breaking seventh consecutive league title. Berg again found himself under scrutiny after the unexpected exit of Manqoba Mngqithi, who was let go just five months after being promoted to head coach, with former Esperance de Tunis manager Miguel Cardoso taking over on Tuesday.
Although Sundowns opted to end Mngqithi’s stint, the Danish administrator asserts that the past few months have brought success under the direction of the former Golden Arrows coach, with the team currently sitting atop the Betway Premiership standings.
“I don’t really see it that way [as a setback for Mngqithi], because, in my humble opinion, we are in a far better situation now compared to five months ago. I don’t consider our recent journey a failure, not at all,” Berg remarked.
The former Chelsea scout, who joined the club in April 2022, further dismissed the notion that he is the only decision-maker at Sundowns, emphasizing that both the board and the entire leadership are involved in the process.
“In terms of responsibility at this football club, it is always a team effort. We bring various insights, opinions, and suggestions to the discussion, and significant decisions of this nature are usually made by the board,” Berg clarified.
“This is how the club functions. I am aware there have been conversations regarding ‘Flemming did this, Flemming did that’. However, it doesn’t operate that way here; you greatly underestimate the club if you think so. The club is much bigger than that.
“While I accept all responsibilities where appropriate, the most vital aspect for me is rejecting the narrative of failure. We are not going through a bad phase; in fact, we are doing quite well,” he highlighted.
Discussing the reasons behind the club’s change in direction, Berg emphasized the importance of making prompt decisions to address what had become a disappointing season, marked by unfocused results and less dominant performances on the pitch.
“I refer to the GPS model, which indicates that what was effective in the past may not be applicable now. We must consistently monitor when performance might start to dip and act preemptively,” he explained.
“Investments need to be made before any decline occurs, and waiting too long is not an option. Therefore, I don’t view the situation with Mngqithi as a failure. I think we are in a much better position now, and I appreciate the previous coaching staff for their efforts.”
