THE battle for the Kay Motsepe Cup's R500000 first prize heats up with the national finals starting from today at the University of Limpopo Turfloop campus's Oscar Mpetha stadium.

THE battle for the Kay Motsepe Cup's R500000 first prize heats up with the national finals starting from today at the University of Limpopo Turfloop campus's Oscar Mpetha stadium.

The tournament, the brainchild of Mamelodi Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe and named after his mother, will end on Saturday.

The prize money has been doubled this year and the number of participating teams has also increased.

SA Schools Football Association (Sasfa) national co-ordinator Themba Tshabalala said the event will present an excellent opportunity for talent scouts.

"The tournament has reached a climax and we are waiting with bated breath to see who will win the first prize. There is a lot of hype in this event, which is the richest schools competition in the world. We trust that this will preserve the memory of Kay Motsepe," said Tshabalala yesterday.

"We will also take this opportunity to remember Molefi Kekana, the late Sasfa North West chairperson who passed on this week."

Tshabalala said they had taken the necessary steps to prevent cheating and defaulters "to ensure the smooth running of the tournament".

The participating provincial champions are Mokopane Academy and Rampo (Limpopo); Mohloli and Lamola Jubilee (Gauteng); Langeberg and Tlhwahalang (Northern Cape); Puledi and Masizakhe (Mpumalanga); Harmony and Falesizwe (Free State); Mzuvele and Slindokuhle (KwaZulu-Natal); Barolong and Seiphemelo (North West); Vusimusi and Lukhanyo (Eastern Cape); and Khayamnandi and Steenberg (Western Cape).