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Stats reveal Chiefs' WORST ever start in PSL season

Cape Town - For almost three years, Kaizer Chiefs fans were not quite sure what to make of Steve Komphela as head coach.

They wanted him to succeed, but the results just never came and eventually the former Free State Stars and Maritzburg United mentor was forced out just short of competing three seasons in charge. 

Komphela did not win a trophy, never challenged for the league and ultimately took the club backwards. 

The start of 2018/19 was supposed to be a new dawn at Naturena, with Giovanni Solinas the man tasked with bringing the glory back to the biggest club in the country.

Instead, the Soweto giants have gone on to make their worst ever start to a league campaign.

READ: As it Happened: Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Celtic

After five league games Chiefs have, for the first time ever, failed to record a win. Wednesday's demoralising 2-2 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at the FNB Stadium was the latest disappointment.

The irony is that Komphela is now coaching Celtic and was the architect behind Siwelele's sensational comeback from two goals down to grab a morale-boosting late draw.

In his first job since leaving Chiefs in acrimonious circumstances, the much-ridiculed Komphela has led Celtic to the top of the standings with his young side impressively yet to taste defeat.

What makes their start the more impressive is that club owner Max Tshabalala is trying to sell the franchise with financial issues plaguing the club and players not receiving payments.

Solinas, in his first five games, has failed to shore up a leaky defence that has contributed to him making a worse start than any of the three seasons under Komphela.

After 5 games in charge under Solinas, Chiefs have scored a mere 5 goals while conceding and sit 13th in the standings on 4 points.

In each of Komphela's three seasons in charge, Chiefs had accumulated more log points. They had recorded 7 points at the same stage in the 2015/2016 campaign, 10 points in the 2016/2017 and 8 points last season in the 2017/2018 campaign.

In the 2009/2010 season, Chiefs in their worst start so far to date - after five games - had the same amount of points (4) but the difference being that they recorded a 3-2 win over AmaZulu.

The stick that was constantly used to beat Komphela with was that he failed in his time to lift a single piece of silverware.

It is looking like we may have to rethink Komphela's reign at Chiefs, though. 

The blame was solely placed on Komphela's shoulders but, perhaps, it could now be argued that the Chiefs squad is just not good enough.

Or instead of holding Komphela solely accountable, it could be a combination of a bigger problem at the club: poor recruitment leading to a second-rate squad that needed a coach to perform minor miracles.

This ultimately proved out of Komphela's reach, with Chiefs now realizing the huge task at hand to once again reach the heights of the title-winning 2014/2015 campaign.

Kaizer Chiefs under Solinas after 5 games:

Played 5 | Won 0 | Drawn 4 | Lost 1 | Goals for 5 | Goals against 7 | Points 4

Kaizer Chiefs under Komphela after 5 games 2015/2016:

Played 5 | Won 1 | Drawn 4 | Lost 0 | Goals for 7 | Goals against 3 | Points 7

Kaizer Chiefs under Komphela after 5 games 2016/2017:

Played 5 | Won 3 | Drawn 1 | Lost 1 | Goals for 7 | Goals against 3 | Points 10

Kaizer Chiefs under Komphela after 5 games 2017/2018:

Played 5 | Won 2 | Drawn 2 | Lost 1 | Goals for 7 | Goals against 4 | Points 8

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