Pascal Nouma on ‘The Traitors Türkiye’

In our April 2026 issue of Episode Magazine, we spoke with Pascal Nouma from the The Traitors Türkiye team, whom we featured on our cover.

For Pascal Nouma, who stepped from the tough and physical world of football fields into the experience of The Traitors Türkiye set in a castle in Belgium, this time Pascal Nouma’s struggle is fought with the mind, not with muscle power.

On the field, you see your opponent; here, you don’t even know who the opponent is. The hardest part is fighting the unseen. There is power on the field, here there is the mind; the mind is more ruthless. Football is physical, this game is psychological. Not knowing your opponent is the biggest challenge.”

In this game where it isn’t even clear who the opponent is and where trust is constantly tested, Pascal Nouma turns years of field experience into reading people and staying calm. According to Pascal Nouma, the biggest battle is with the unseen; because in this game, the opponent is not across from you, but sometimes right beside you and sometimes within one’s own mind. Let’s see what Pascal Nouma has to say about the competition.

You are in a “mind war” this time after the football field… Which one is harder?

On the field, you see your opponent; here, you don’t even know who the opponent is. The hardest part is fighting the unseen. There is power on the field, here there is the mind; the mind is more ruthless. Football is physical, this game is psychological. Not knowing your opponent is the biggest challenge.

What was your biggest advantage in a game where physical strength is of no use?

Over the years, I learned to understand what people are thinking by looking into their eyes. In this game, it’s not muscle but intuition that wins. My experience always carried me one step forward. And being able to stay calm was my biggest advantage.

Was it harder to trust people, or did approaching everyone with suspicion tire you out more?

Trusting is a risk… But living with constant suspicion exhausts a person. I chose to take the risk. Striking the balance is the hardest part.

Did your “leadership” instinct kick in during the game, or did you choose to stay in the background?

Leadership isn’t shouting; it’s stepping forward at the right moment. Leadership is felt, not shown. I became a leader by reading, not by talking.

​Do you remember your biggest misconception? Whom did you trust and why?

My misconception wasn’t about a person, but about trusting humanity. Being too well-intentioned, trusting people too much. Still, I didn’t give up being myself.

How did the silence and isolation in the castle affect you?

Silence amplifies one’s inner voice. My biggest opponent there was myself.

If you were a Traitor, what kind of game would you set up?

I would give confidence and then strike the final blow. Because the strongest weapon is people believing in you.

Who challenged you the most among the other contestants?

The most dangerous player is the quiet one, not the one who talks a lot. Observing challenged me.

What did this competition teach you about human nature?

Humans show their true face when they are afraid. And everyone is lonelier than they think.

Was winning more important or solving the game?

Winning is a result. But if you solve the game, you won’t lose anyway.

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