ARNOLD Zikhali, aka Oxman, has reportedly chickened out of his scheduled appearance at Chiefs Village Lounge in Bulawayo this Saturday.
A spokesperson for the events management team said efforts to locate the Oxman ahead of his departure for Bulawayo were futile, with the country’s so-called strongest man elusive as to his whereabouts.
“We are disappointed that Zikhali went MIA on us at the 11th hour when his transportation was ready for the trip to Bulawayo. He was elusive about his whereabouts when we called him earlier today (Friday) despite having a firm agreement with him and his team.”
It is now believed Oxman chickened out of the challenge and will surely leave Bulawayo disappointed and convinced he is a fraud. He was also expected to engage in some of his strongman activities, such as pulling trucks.
The 36-year-old Oxman gained national notoriety when he shocked many people with his average menu of 60kgs of sadza and 60kgs of rice every month.
On average, Zikhali said he consumes 2kgs of sadza, 2kgs of muriwo, six pints of lacto, one litre of juice and two litres of water for lunch.
He interchanges sadza with 2kgs of rice for supper.
One local who spoke to EnterSportsNews insisted that Oxman is not all he has been said to be.
“This guy cannot eat as much as he claims. And I am sure he chickened out because he knows he won’t be able to hack it,” argued Philani Njini.
Njini called Oxman out and challenged him to turn up and prove his claims.
Efforts to get a comment from Oxman were fruitless as his mobile was unreachable.
Events organisers have called Bulawayo to produce two contestants who will take each other on in an all-out “eat all you can” competition.
“Now that the Oxman is no longer available, we are calling on two serious eaters, so to speak, who will go head to head in an eating competition,” said the event organisers.
