IN 2005, Al-Ahram Weekly briefly covered an Egyptian rower who critics expected to rise in the ranks. In the past four years Mustafa has indeed risen -- to 198cms in height, and a decent shot at the 2012 London Olympics. "I'm doing my best and I hope that it will be good enough," says. So far it is good enough. So confident is it in 's abilities that the International Olympic Committee granted the now 21-year-old Egyptian a two- week training scholarship in Italy for next month's world renowned Biscara championship. The IOC's recognition of 's talents came after he took third place in Royal St Catherine in Canada last year in single scull. Representing the Police Rowing Club, 's bronze was won out of 70 boats from the US, Canada, Mexico, South Africa and Germany. In Italy last month, this time representing Egypt, from among 15 European countries, he captured silver in the quatre scull in the famed Paulo d'aluga, plus a bronze in double scull. unselfishly credits his teammates for the successes: Nour Hussein in the M2X in Paulo d'aluga, and Mohamed Gomaa, Mustafa Ezz and Hussein in the M4X in the same tournament. 's training regimen is gruelling. He trains six hours a day -- three for rowing starting from the crack of dawn, and three hours of lifting weights in the afternoon. And he must do so while juggling his studies at the Maritime Academy. "I know that what I want needs a lot of sacrifice, whether in leisure time or the kinds of food I eat but it's worth it," said. His Ukrainian coach Dimitry Rabokha, on the job in Egypt for eight years, believes "could make it big." The sentiment is shared by 's father, , a member of the national rowing team in 1980. Currently heading the rowing congress of Greater Cairo, is his son's part trainer, part cheerleader. Also keeping their fingers crossed that can make Egypt and himself proud are the Egyptian Olympic Committee president Mounir Thabet, EOC secretary Khaled Zein, the Egyptian Rowing Federation, headed by Safaaeddin Saleh, and its manager Magdi Afifi. Despite the expectations and optimism, the tide of history may be against the young . Egypt has never won a rowing medal of any kind in an Olympics. It has garnered three silver and two bronze medals in world championships from 1995-2003. Egypt is a respectable No 11 in the world in rowing, the best Arab and African country. Its most famous rower, Ali Ibrahim, took sixth place in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Like Ahli football club, the rowing federation is 102 years old but unlike Ahli, lacks the capital the soccer giants enjoy. The federation is thus looking for a sponsor for two of its rowers to cover expenses, citing the example of Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that takes financial care of the German team. London is still far off. The world championships, in early 2012 somewhere in Europe, will determine which 11 boats will qualify for the Games. "It's not really that far," says . "Actually, considering all the required training and preparation, it's just down the road." and others are hoping he will be on one of the vessels
