Pre-Season Friendlies | 19 September 2026
Amaxesibe will throw open the gates of Emaxesibeni Stadium on Saturday as hosts of a four-team pre-season festival, headlined by their own double of fixtures on 19 September 2026. The home side are in action twice — first at 11:00 against Matatiele City, then in the afternoon showpiece at 13:00 against fellow Eastern Cape outfit Bush Bucks. Good Felas FC complete the field, with Bush Bucks opening the day against them at 09:00 and Matatiele City closing proceedings at 15:00. For Amaxesibe, there is the added responsibility, and the advantage, of playing it all out at home.
Home comforts, serious work
Hosting a pre-season day is a statement in itself, and Amaxesibe will want their ground to be a fortress long before the competitive fixtures arrive. The 11:00 opener against Matatiele City is the ideal first hit-out — a chance to shake off the rust in front of their own supporters and get a first proper look at the group in match conditions. Playing on a familiar surface, in front of a home crowd, is exactly the kind of setting in which a coach can judge whether the pre-season drills are translating onto the pitch.
The afternoon derby with Bush Bucks
The 13:00 meeting with Bush Bucks is the fixture of the day. Two recognised Eastern Cape names going head to head always carries a little more bite than a run-of-the-mill friendly, and for Amaxesibe there is pride in giving a good account of themselves on home soil. It is also the sternest examination of the afternoon — the measure of where this squad really sits against quality regional opposition before the season proper gets underway.
Final word
Organising and hosting a day like this says plenty about a club’s ambitions off the pitch as well as on it. For Amaxesibe the brief is simple: use the two games to build fitness and sharpness, give the supporters a reason to turn up early and stay late, and send a quiet message to the rest of the region that the club means business this term. Win, lose or draw on Saturday, a well-run festival at Emaxesibeni Stadium is a result in its own right.
