Former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns right back Luvhengo Mungomeni has announced his retirement from football.

The 33-year-old has been without a club since June 2016, having last played for Moroka Swallows where he scored four goals and assisted a further two from 87 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Mungomeni says it was not an easy decision to make, he insists that he’s happy that he left football peacefully and with good discipline.

“Papi Mungomeni has officially retired and challenged himself on facing the reality out of soccer fame to live a life that will make him a better person in business,” Mungomeni told KickOff.com.

“I never wanted to retire at an old age. I have left football peacefully with good discipline. I have never attended any hearing in my 12 years of playing professional football.

“It was not easy to quit football because I was well mentored and surrounded by good people. I can now say I have retired.

“I am hustling for my kids to live a better life than me when I was growing up because life was not easy for me. It was rough growing up in the village of Rapali.

“As a young man growing up and playing soccer in the dusty street, I was spotted playing soccer at school I went all the way to play in all divisions; representing my country with Under-20 and U-23 and earning a senior cap which was a dream come true.”

Over the course of his career, Mungomeni has scored seven times and created three assists from 164 appearances in all competitions playing for the likes of Bush Bucks, Black Leopards, Sundowns and Swallows.