Daily BulletinThey put the world in the AYSO World Games 1998 event.

We're talking about the two international teams from Germany and South Africa which participated in the tournament last week in Ontario, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga.

A Division 1 boys' team from Nigeria was expected to participate, but was unable to at the last minute. A German team of boys 19 and younger took its place.

In the Division 4 boys' pool, a South African team of 12 boys 10 and 11 years old, played against teams from Culver City, Corona, Hawaii, Lake Forest and Arizona.

It was the first time the team - under coaches Neil Kirby and Michael Dankworth - had participated in such a tournament.

"We always wanted to see how the boys could play against the Americans," Kirby said at the opening ceremonies at Chaffey High School on July 21.

Later in the week, on a Friday morning, the South African boys said they were impressed with the United States. They said the Inland Valley was a great place because there was no litter, it was cleaner and well-organized with not much crime.

It's also nice and hot, the boys said.

"The way it is today is the way it is in South Africa," said Robert Simpson, 11. It was overcast and cool.

Of the tournament itself, team members said they were enjoying themselves.

"It's been really good," said Oliver Whiteley, 11.

By Friday morning the South African team had won one game and lost one.

The competition was much harder than the players had anticipated.

"Inside South Africa, it's easy. We're one of the top teams," said Claudio Crissman, 11. "We didn't know what it would be like."

Many of the South African team members were aware Americans were known for their football and baseball playing prowess. Their soccer skills came as a surprise,

"Americans really can play soccer," said Matthew Rademan, 11. "The girls here are much better than some of the boys."

There are no girls' soccer teams in South Africa, added Ashley Youngman, 11.

The rest of the players include: Benjamin Kirby, Syngyn Hope, Brandon Da Silva, Thomas Brown, Clinton Dankworth, Keagan Benson and Chad Kin.

Neither international team advanced to the quarterfinals.