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Cape Town - Owen Da Gama admits he is hopeful Bidvest Wits young forward Phakamani Mahlambi will be declared fit to play in the 2016 Rio Olympic games.
The 18-year-old forward had a blistering start to his professional career cruelly halted when he tore his ACL in an Absa Premiership clash against the University if Pretoria on mid-February, but it's been reported the teenager is recovering ahead of schedule - after initially being expected to only return for the start of the new campaign.
Da Gama, who gave Mahlambi his debut for Amaglug-glug, admits he's been monitoring Wits player's recovery process with a watchful eye.
"Of course I am and we are monitoring the situation," he told KickOff.
"He came in from the School of Excellence to Wits and Gavin, all credit must go to Gavin Hunt. He took a chance, he is playing the boy and he was just absolutely in fantastic form for Wits. It was easy to bring him to the team."
With the possibility of Mahlambi not making the trip to Brazil, the national under-23 coach admitted he's also been tracking the progress of National First division top scorer Thabiso Kutumela, who recently signed a pre-contract agreement with Orlando Pirates.
The Baroka FC striker has scored 17 goals in the league to help the unfancied side bolster their hopes of promotion to South Africa's top flight.
"He [Kutumela] has scored 17 goals, so it gives him the opportunity to also raise his hand. But there is tremendous talent around... it is just absolutely unbelievable."
