EXCITEMENT is building as the countdown to the Under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup enters its final phase, organisers of the biggest school football competition have announced.

There is less than a month to go before 18 clubs that have qualified for this tournament travel to Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, for a high-stakes showdown.

"The nine provincial champions and the nine second-placed teams will be in action at the Giant Stadium from October 6 to 9," it was announced yesterday.

This biggest school soccer sponsorship with the largest prize money in the history of African schools soccer is organised under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association.

"The winners will walk away with R1-million in funding for legacy projects at their school," the organisers said in a statement yesterday.

"The school that comes second will win R600000, third place gets R500000 and fourth will settle for R400000.

"Each of the provincial winners have already received R100000 for their efforts and the national finals give runners-ups the chance to also win some money."

This year's competition is wide open bearing in mind that defending champions Clapham High School were eliminated at the provincial play-off stage.

Gauteng will be represented by newcomers Holy Trinity High School from Pretoria. Most players from that school belong to the SuperSport United Academy. They played in the final last year for Rosina Sedibane Sport School.

"The Sanlam Kay Motsepe School Cup nationals is an ideal opportunity for the clubs to spot talent and scouts from PSL [Premier Soccer League] clubs will be there to look for players to boost their youth academies," organisers said.