Motsepe Foundation Championship side Venda FC has strengthened its squad by bringing in former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Luvhengo Mungomeni.

Mungomeni, who also played for Black Leopards, has joined VFA as an assistant coach to work with head coach Stan Nkoane. He was on the bench when the Venda club lost 1-0 to Motsepe Foundation Championship log leaders Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium on Friday.

During his playing days, Mungomeni was a league title runner-up with Sundowns in the 2009/10 season (behind SuperSport United) and the 2011/12 season (behind Orlando Pirates). He was also part of the Moroka Swallows side that won the MTN8 in the 2012/13 season.

Venda has also signed Thando Buthelezi on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns. Buthelezi was previously loaned out to Richards Bay in the first half of the season but was released after failing to make an impact.

The Limpopo side is bolstering its team as it currently sits in the relegation zone, lying 14th in the Motsepe Foundation Championship table with 15 points after 18 matches. They are level on points with 15th-placed Cape Town Spurs and two points ahead of bottom-placed Leruma United.

Nkoane is confident he can save Venda, just as he did with Baroka and Marumo Gallants respectively in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. “When I joined Marumo Gallants, they were 16th, and the club finished ninth,” Nkoane told Sportswire. “It was the same with Baroka – they were 16th, and we saved them. I want to do the same with Venda – we want to secure the club’s status for next season.”

Regarding the loss to Durban City, Nkoane said they were playing against a well-equipped team in the division. “We played well, but right now we want to save the club,” he said after the loss. “We tried tactically and mentally, but Simo Dladla (Durban City coach) understands the dynamics of the Motsepe Foundation Championship. But I feel it is a game that we could have won. There were a lot of good areas in our team, but we lost to a better team.”

Venda’s next game is at home against the University of Pretoria at Thohoyandou Stadium on 22 February at 15:30.