'The teams are much closer and that's why the points tally is much lower because teams are beating each other,' Hunt said.
As Sundowns won their seventh league title on the trot last season, they lost only one match in 30 matches. In 2024-25, the Brazilians will once again be the team to beat, finishing 23 points ahead of the second-placed Orlando Pirates.
In the log standings last season, Matsatsantsa a Pitori finished seventh. With the acquisition of experienced defenders Nyiko Mobbie and Pogiso Sanoka as well as winger Vincent Pule from Pirates, Hunt has added some much-needed steel to his team.
We have no players here and we're struggling. We lost (Etiosa) Ighodaro and (Bradley) Bradley, which is a big blow," said the 60-year-old, who is expected also to rely on his academy graduates.
In addition to grooming them, our youth academy has served our club very well for the last 25 years. Just look around the league and all the players that came from our club. That's what we do."
Royal AM and Cape Town City open the league on Saturday, but United have a Tshwane derby against Sundowns on September 17, when they will be playing in the Caf Champions League.
