With local football teams and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) still puzzled by the dwindling support during the first few weeks of the Absa Premiership it was encouraging to see that foreign interest in SA soccer is still there.

The 2010 World Cup is long gone, but the legacy that this world showpiece has left behind is enormous, as was evident when I was approached by two German students to do job shadowing at our offices, with their main objective being to learn more about South African football.

Like many foreign students, Daniel Overbeck and Hauke Hastedt, have limited knowledge about South African soccer, but they know the big teams like Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, and of course, they also know South African stars like Steven Pienaar and Benni McCarthy, who play abroad.

But with the World Cup just having finished I decided to ask the two students about their impression of the 2010 World Cup compared to the 2006 World Cup that was hosted in their homeland.

Surprisingly, Overbeck and Hastedt, were not biased in their assessment of the 2010 showpiece.

"My impression on the World Cup was very positive. Very unexpected things did happen like France being dumped out of the World Cup so early in the group match against South Africa. Of course everybody followed the success story of Ghana's young team," said Overbeck.

He added: "Also surprising was Uruguay's good performance. They went all the way to the semi-finals, where they lost to the Netherlands.

"I must say, it was indeed a very exciting World Cup. It was also good to see South Africa hosting a successful World Cup after many people doubted their ability to do so.

"What was equally fascinating was the fact that there were no riots and violence caused by the World Cup in the country than for example in Germany in 2006.

"South Africans showed their skills as good hosts and friends. It was big step forward for SA and people all over the world got a good impression of the country, an impression more realistic than the one you get on television, where the comment on Africa is mainly just referring to starving kids, poverty and crime."

Overbeck's views were echoed by Hastedt, who was equally full of praise for South Africa as hosts.

"Security was good in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, but I was more impressed by the people of South Africa who were more friendly and there was no big crime like in Germany," said Hastedt.

Hastedt, like most football fans in South Africa and Africa, was a bit disappointed by the performance of the African teams in the World Cup.

"The African teams did not do as I expected of them, but I was impressed by the young Ghana team which went all the way to the quarterfinals.

"Sadly, Ghana lost and everybody was very upset after this loss, but Ghana can be satisfied with their achievement at the World Cup and they must be very proud of themselves."

"All in all the African teams didn't play to the best of their skills, but we all hope they will play better in the next World Cup," concluded Hastedt.

So, there you have it the World Cup experience in South Africa through the eyes of German students.

Next week, my column returns, be sure to read my views on the Soweto Derby between Chiefs and Orlando Pirates which will be played this weekend..