As Steve Komphela continues to walk the tightrope, the facts prove that Kaizer Chiefs are now just one game away from their longest winless run in PSL history.

Chiefs are without victory in open play in eight games and just a game away from matching their nine-in-a-row winless streak they recorded during the 2001/02 season straight after lifting the 2001 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup under Muhsin Ertugral.

Last season Chiefs also went up to eight games without winning in Komphela’s first season in charge when they went on to meekly surrender the league title.

Could Chiefs be heading down the drain yet again to the heartbreak they had to deal with last season?

After being humiliated by Chippa United this past weekend Amakhosi have failed to win in 780 minutes of open play (minus referee’s optional time added through all the games) which translates to 13 hours of football without winning.

The last time Chiefs managed to win a match was via a penalty shootout after two hours of open play had failed to separate them from Maritzburg United in the Telkom Knockout first round on October 22.

Since then they have also found no joy in open play, failing to win against Orlando Pirates, Baroka FC, Free State Stars, Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United, Cape Town City and Chippa United.

For an open-play victory Chiefs will have to stretch back to mid-October when they overcame Ajax Cape Town at Moses Mabhida Stadium, and that was when Roger de Sa was still in charge of the Urban Warriors.

There is no doubt that Komphela is seeing plenty red lights on his dashboard as he seeks to keep moving on a reserve tank. As he remains in the job, he needs to avert what is developing into a slide into the mud.

Komphela must start winning games by hook or crook to lengthen his days in charge at the club otherwise he will have to contend with those who voice their frustrations through aggression and acting out of order. Scenes of fans showing their displeasure by directing some unfriendly words towards Komphela have been witnessed at the end of the last three games.

Next up for Chiefs are two home games against Bloemfontein Celtic and Polokwane City, which will be followed by a trip to Golden Arrows before the Christmas break.

Then there will be a seven-week break through January enforced by the African Nations Cup finals.