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| Aquaman Danté de Villiers |
After winning
three Reward Challenges in a row, 31-year old Danté de Villiers from
Dwarskersbos in the Western Cape, had a luminous target on his back in this
week’s episode of Survivor SA: Island of Secrets. Not that he wasn’t on the hit
list before! With his muscled body, love for the ocean, long flowing tresses
and signature Speedo, Survivor’s very own Aquaman stood out as a physical
threat from the start. His straight talk, lack of influence, Tarzan-like
behaviour and occasional temper tantrums also counted against him. Since the arrival
of the Tribal Merge, Danté’s days were numbered indeed!
And now, without
having another Immunity Necklace as protection, the Tribe has finally spoken:
Danté is the twelfth person to be voted off M-Net’s seventh season of Survivor
SA and the fourth member of the jury to choose the Sole Survivor at the Final
Tribal Council.
It seems there
was a lot of tension within the tribe before tribal council. What did you make
of Steffi and Rob's ranting about alliances? I think everyone has their own
opinion as to how the game should be played. There isn't a wrong or right
method of finding an alliance, that is why it is so important to adapt
throughout the game and understand one's place in that alliance.
And their
sarcastic comments, like it seems they are King & Queen of the tribe? At
this stage of the game everyone was very hungry and depleted and it would have
frustrated anyone to have lost at challenges three times in a row.
When did you start to feel the heat that
yes, maybe I'm next on the chopping block? Immediately after Meryl's exit I felt a change in behaviour towards
me. From that point onward I knew that I had to deliver to perform to the
best of my abilities to stay alive.
In your mind, why did you think they were
gunning for you to get you voted off? Rob and Nicole suspected that I was onto their game plan and it would
be a matter of time before I would form alliances to break that bond and have
them voted off.
How would you describe your friendship, if
you can call it that, with Jacques and Cobus? In a parallel universe we will be able to have an amazing alliance, but
post merge they were very comfortable in their own alliances and made it
impossible for me to convince them otherwise.
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| Fun in the mud |
You were a bit more quiet and reserved in
the episode than your usual self. Any reason for that? I realized that I had no room to move and
instead of convincing individuals, as I had already tried on numerous occasions
to do, I was relying on them to make the required decision that would benefit
us all.
What was your game plan for the series? Coming into the game, the provider role and
the physical aspect was important to me. As the game evolved I was trying
to adapt as circumstances changed. A set game plan was not an option for
me.
Who do you think is a threat in the tribe? The one who takes control of the social
game and has the capacity to win reward and immunity challenges. In
theory, this survivor would have a strong hold on the tribe.
Who do you think could win the series? There is still much room for big moves and
whoever comes up with an unorthodox play can impact the outcome, making it
anyone's game.
What did you make of the nickname Aquaman? I tried to live up to the given name as
much as possible - very easy for me being a water lover. (I just needed a
trident!)
You'll be joining the jury, what is your
role as member of the jury?
I will be the jury member who will be tough to convince that the title of Sole
Survivor belongs to one of the remaining tribe members showing consistent game
play and strategically evolving. This should also be someone who takes
integrity with them to the end.
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| The jury |
When you returned home, what was the first
thing you did? I got
into my wetsuit, ran to the beach and went for a long, overdue surf.
Are you still involved with your coffee shop
and how are things going with it now that you're back? It's business as usual; catching up
with old and new visitors and eagerly awaiting the West Coast flower season.
Lastly, what advice would you dish out for
the rest of the contestants?
Create your own path and leave with no regrets, having played your own game
without compromise and overtly influenced by others.
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