Downs youngsters Berg’s choice?

In his introduction of the club’s new sporting director, Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Thlopane Motsepe made sure to mention that one of Flemming Berg’s strongest attributes was working with academy players.

Berg worked as an international scout for Chelsea and was instrumental in drawing up the blueprint for talent identification for his native Danish national team,

so he arrived at Chloorkop

with a big reputation.

And according to Siya sources, Berg has hit the ground running and his recommendations are already being taken into account.

The Siya crew understands that two young players that have recently been added to the senior team roster, in Cassius Mailula and Ntando Nkosi, were brought to the technical team’s attention by Berg.

Downs co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has been vocal about the club’s internal policy not to rush academy players, though insisting that if they are good enough, they will get an opportunity – and this has been the case of late for Mailula.

Berg’s role, among several responsibilities, is to make sure there is a synergy across all departments at the club with a big focus on emerging talent from their reserve leagues and further down the junior ranks. That is his speciality. Mailula and Nkosi, both attacking midfielders, have already received rave reviews from the Downs senior technical team, which would be evidence to Berg’s good eye even if he’s only just arrived in the country a few months ago to take up the role.