24-year-old wedding planner Zavion Kotze was on the receiving end of the biggest blindside of the season on Survivor SA 5. He chats to Amanda Hoosen about it and reveals how he feels ...
Amanda: ZAVION!! Congrats on playing such a memorable game!! I am not sure if you have followed my blog or not but I must admit that I didn’t give you a chance of winning from episode 1.
However, by the end of episode 15, I was kinda sad that you were no longer in the running. I grew to feel that you would have been an absolutely worthy winner!!
In my opinion, I feel as though your game evolved strategically day by day. Do you agree with that? If so, how did you game change as you progressed? Zavion: Hi Amanda, I must be totally honest in that I did read your blogs. I thought you had a passionate spin on writing as we all know you experienced this once in a lifetime Survivor thing. I did read that you weren’t my biggest fan and I am extremely happy to see that you grew respect for my strategic game.
Every day, as you know, is a struggle on that island and I constantly had to change the way I played. From day 2 I was on the outside of alliances and I had to work very hard to get to the Top 5. I think if you don’t change your strategy throughout the game, you will get voted out, so yes, I totally agree with you.
Amanda: In episode 16, when your alliance was fairly convinced that Sivu was going home, you guys opted to do the “noble” thing and tell him he was next to go. That whole conversation with yourself, Sivu and Buhle did come across as somewhat patronizing. I doubt that was your intention however, do you see how that discussion could have been interpreted that way? Zavion: I can assure you that I am not a patronising person. I was rather sad seeing the show and seeing them interpret my talking to them as patronising. I was just trying to be nice and kind.
That day was a particularly hard day on the island and my heart went out to Sivu. Our alliance had decided that he needed to be the next to get voted out and I found myself sitting there and realising that he could uplift and enrich his entire family - more than he has already done, mind you.
I felt myself looking at life after the game, why I was there and what I was playing for. As you well know, it is a game, and boy do you have to play it, but at some point your morality comes into play and it all becomes a bit much. So I decided that we should tell him, which I do not regret in the slightest! He’s a wonderful guy.
Amanda: Do you have a memory of the most difficult day on the island for you? (Mine was day 22).
Zavion: I had three bad days, day 7 (I was hungry and missing loved ones and battling alliance wise) day 17, (I was STARVING! and rather nervous just before merge) and day 25, (Morality kicked in and it was all just a bit taxing)
Amanda: So let’s talk about throwing challenges. I know you don’t regret anything but in hindsight, would you still have thrown challenges? Do you think that strategy helped you get further in the game? Zavion: I did throw two challenges, and I would do it again! Having won the first individual immunity I knew if I won too much I would be seen as too much of a threat. I made the decision to let other people shine a bit, and HEY it worked ;)
Amanda: This season, the blindsides have been hectic!! Such a pleasure for the viewers I might add. Clearly so far, your exit is being hailed as the biggest blindside of the season. How shocked were you when Sivu pulled out that idol?
Zavion: MASSIVELY shocked, but extremely happy it happened, how it went down and I felt so relieved. There were one or two moments late that afternoon where I thought about the possibility, but in all, Sivu was like Denzel Washington - he played the game like a BOSS! As soon as it happened, I no longer felt awful, I clapped and gave him a giant hug. MAD respect for that move.
Amanda: If you could put together a 5 person alliance (including yourself) choosing any of the contestants from this season, who would you have teamed up with? So your sort of season 5 “dream team”? Zavion: A five-person alliance is tough, but to be honest, it would be Moyra, Graham, Marsha, Genna and myself. If there was a sixth it would be Altaaf =)
Amanda: Which fellow tribemate has surprised you the most since the show started airing? I know that when watching it on TV, you learn a lot about what was going on on the island! Zavion: That would DEF be Sivu. I thought he wouldn't even make it past day 5. Now look at him, top three! So awesome!
Amanda: What has your Mom had to say about her experience on the island? It was adorable watching you guys!! Zavion: Aw my mom... Well it being Mother’s Day recently - HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM ! lol.. In all honesty it was a dream come true for both of us. She had never been overseas before and I got to provide that for her by making it that far.
She had a fantastic time and an unforgettable experience. She told me when she saw me that she couldn’t believe I had got so far, that she would have voted me out first because I’m such a threat (Thanks mom) and she was also very worried about how much weight I had lost. She was like trying to feed me pizza the whole time that afternoon. It was great.
Amanda: Would you consider playing this game again? Zavion: I WOULD PLAY IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT !!!
Amanda: Lastly, my standard question: Do you now know after this experience what your absolute favourite food is? Zavion: MASH !!!!!!! hahahahaha Gosh I missed potatoes on that island.