Who is Zikhali? …the strongman with a huge appetite
At some moment in life you meet someone who makes you realise that eating is real job, not a mere adjunct to the ancient rhythm of life to survive.
Imagine a breakfast of 30 eggs (15 boiled, 15 fried), two loaves of bread and a teapot, then followed by a lunch of 2kg of sadza, 2kg of meat, a litre of water, two litres juice and 6 pints of milk?
This is not a script for a King Kong movie but a real life story of Bulawayo- born soldier, now making waves for his extraordinary prowess to pull huge weights, like rail wagons on straps.
Just before daybreak on December 23 1987, nature gifted the couple of Leonard and Miriam Zikhali with a bubbly baby boy weighing between 6kg and 8kg at Mphilo Hospital.
They named the chubby baby Arnold after popular Austrian and American actor, businessman, filmmaker, politician, and now retired professional body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stood at 1,88m high and weighed 107kg, that time.
Of course, the birth was by Caesarian section, given the baby’s huge size. The actual weight at birth is subject to confirmation, for, the records are no longer available.
Family members were not really surprised given that his father, Leonard was a huge-framed policeman. The mother was equally big.
Today, Arnold Zikhali weighs 145kg and stands at about 1,9 metres tall, and wears size 14 shoes.
Arnold grew up in the dusty streets of Nkulumane in Bulawayo, known by many nicknames stemming from his chubby frame.
But one nickname, “Don’t Disappoint Food” (DDF) stuck for good, after his grumpy eating habits where many discovered gave him strength.
Arnold became street wrestler and boxer, taking advantage of his big body and when he got tired, he started searching for bigger, heavier things to haul around.
Now he has added another sobriquet, Strongman. Indeed, the man is strong and like many, he has turned to pulling wagons, haulage trucks and vehicles on straps.
He attended Mgoqo Primary and Mandwandwe Secondary Schools. Arnold now 36, was a boxer before joining the army in 2011 at Harare Army h.
He then became a wrestler in the army. He would train rigorously to build strength and endurance to perform high-flying moves, grapples, and strikes during wrestling matches.
Down the memory lane, in the streets of Nkulumane, strongman was nicknamed ‘Don’t disappoint food’ by his late mother and group of friends due to his ability of eating and drinking voraciously, a gourmand he was.
Arnold consumes huge amounts of food on a daily basis leaving no crumbs behind.
“As you know, I eat a variety of food and manage from my salary. When I don’t have enough food, well-wishers and good Samaritans provide for me since they are aware of the type of work I do.
“I eat two loaves of bread for breakfast, one crate of eggs, bacon, polony, beans, fruits, one litre juice, two litres water.
“For lunch, I take 2kg sadza, 2kg meat specifically beef or pork, six pints sour milk, 10 oranges, five apples and 15 bananas. For supper I take 2kg rice, 2kg chicken, beans, one litre of water. Then I feel good.”
How did his passion to pull wagons and cars start?
“All this started in the CBD with two commuter omnibuses and, that is what inspired me to be where I am today. My personal trainer and best friend, Knowledge Mtambara, motivated me,” he said.
Mr Strongman, who goes to Universal Church of Christ, is still single.
“I am a single guy and not ready to settle down. I am not yet fully financially capacitated. I believe one needs to be financially and mentally stable to settle down. Some might think it is because of the food I consume which takes most of my money, but that is not the case.
“My wish is to meet and compete with the strongest men like me at an international level, the likes of Bill Kazmaier, Eddie hall, and Mariusz Pudzianowski.
“Most strongmen competitions are held in Botswana around July and August and I am praying that I get to enter this year’s event to compete against my fellow strongmen,”
His life is a roller coaster.
Down the memory lane, in the streets of Nkulumane, strongman was nicknamed ‘Don’t disappoint food’ by his late mother and group of friends due to his ability of eating and drinking voraciously, a gourmand he was. – Herald
Zikhali the strongman with a huge appetite
