When Durban Survivor contestant and Daily News rugby writer Zayn Nabbi saw the balance beam in the water for the second last challenge of Survivor South Africa, he knew that his game was over.
Speaking yesterday, he said when he saw what the challenge was, he laughed and told the other remaining contestants Mzi Tyhokolo, Jacinda Louw and Vanessa Marawa: "Well done, guys. You are in the final three."
"There was no contest. I knew I wouldn't win that chal-lenge. I was up against Jacinda, a kickboxing champion and yoga expert as well as Mzi and Vanessa, who are good at balancing," he said.
Model Marawa walked away with the title of SA's first ever Survivor.
Now that everything is said and done, Nabbi described Survivor as a great experience and has no regrets.
He said it felt good being the only person not to be voted off the game.
"Remember, I wasn't voted off, I fell off a plank. I guess people couldn't really vote for the roly poly guy whose pants kept falling off," he laughed.
Taking us through his journey, he said it started when he saw the advert while watching Supersport.
"I decided then and there I was going to do it. I filled in the forms, got Roy Barford (fellow journalist) to take my pictures in the Independent Newspaper parking lot, sent it in and was shortlisted in the top 200.
"We had to go for auditions and I remember seeing Vanessa and thinking she's the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.
"When they asked her to sing, I thought I didn't stand a chance, because she had a majestic voice and I can't sing for peanuts, so I rapped the Fresh Prince of Bellair theme song," he said.
When Nabbi made it to the top 20, he had to undergo all sorts of tests as well as a fitness evaluation - which was quite strenuous.
He said the start of the game was a complete surprise, though contestants were suspicious when they were told they were going for a press conference on the island.
He said the only thing about Survivor SA was that cameras never captured how real it was.
"It was very hard and the hunger was unbearable," he said.
He said he voted for Vanessa because he was going to vote for the person who played the game with the most integrity.
Speaking about how life had changed, he said: "It has opened doors slightly for me.
"I got to present a show on Eastern Mosaic and they are now looking at having a regular sports insert."
Nabbi said his luck with the ladies had also turned, well, somewhat.
"There are a lot prettier girls who approach me now, but I'm still same old Zayn," he said.
And as for his 4x4, well, des-pite his mom saying "take it back", he's decided his parents deserve it more than he does.