Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has opened up about the mentality over the team after last season's heartbreak and his plan to refresh a perceived ageing squad.
After losing the Absa Premiership trophy in the dying minutes of the 2019/20 campaign, Hunt has played down the notion that the squad are still affected mentally after the capitulation handed Mamelodi Sundowns league honours.
In the build-up to their MTN8 clash against Maritzburg United this afternoon, he opted for a rather philosophical approach and likened it to that of former Chiefs boss Komphela when responding to questions around mentality.
"The obvious thing to say [I've worked on their mentality] is to say yes but no I haven't. I've worked on what we can do on the football pitch and tried in sessions, making them play in an unconscious way but in a conscious state," Hunt explained.
"I'm starting to sound like my friend Steve now. But that's what I've tried to do and get that back into the way we play but in saying that you can certainly say any footballer that has been in that sort of situation.
"I've won leagues in the last minute and lost one in the last minute so I understand. We have to put that behind us and move forward. I haven't really had a meeting about [the title loss].
"Sometimes its best left alone, let's get on the training ground, it's the best thing for footballers to just get playing again and enjoy it again."
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The four-time league winner went on to discuss the criticism ageing players in their squad as he gets to grips with the inability to sign new players to refresh his current options.
"We have a squad that did very well last season and it was very unfortunate so we'll try and work with that and hopefully, the ruling will be made sooner rather than later," Hunt said.
"I know the league, players, what we facing and what they have in the squad. So I have to work around that and there are quite a few good young players here that will certainly get their chance.
"If you are good enough it doesn't matter what your age is but we have to balance the two because of the situation at the club but I'm very confident in some of the player we've got. The old players they've done well worked hard and have a lot to prove as well."
Hunt will take on the Team of Choice at the FNB Stadium for his official Amakhosi debut this afternoon at 15h00.