Like many revolutionary movements in the continent, the Buccaneers managed to overthrow the dictator in Al-Ahly - who have ruled African football with an iron fist - but couldn’t rule by taking over the crown in the form of the Caf Confederation Cup.
The environment was fertile for Pirates to take over, even though the outfit had played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in their own backyard.
They had reached the final by beating the tournament holders Al-Ahly, who have 19 continental titles, twice in the semi-final.
Pirates were also playing in Tunisia where the first spark of the Arab Spring was lit - going on to become a forceful wildfire that led to four dictators deposed and constitutional reforms in many Arab countries that were ruled with an iron fist.
But those revolutionary vibes didn’t completely rub off on Pirates.
Instead, it was the hosts who gave their countrymen a reason to celebrate in what has been a dark period.
Sahel players entered the pitch draped in Tunisian flags, in a show of patriotism and solidarity for a nation under a State of Emergency.
Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebbsi also announced a nationwide night curfew, after the bombing of a bus transporting presidential guards in Tunis on Tuesday that resulted in 12 deaths.
The fans who packed Stade Olympique de Sousse, despite the Tunisian Interior Ministry promising to allow only 10 000 spectators, appreciated the gesture and the victory even more as the club celebrated their 90th anniversary with their ninth continental title.
It felt like the entire Tunisia was in the stands when Ammar Jemal, pictured, capitalised from a defensive error to give Sahel the lead and only goal of the game.
Happy Jele had miscued a clearance that went towards goalkeeper Felipe Ovono who couldn’t handle the ball in two attempts.
Jemal popped inside the box to make sure that the goal-bound ball made its way to the back of the net.
Jemal, who was born in Sousse, described the goal he scored in the first leg as the best goal of his life.
But scoring in the final in front of his home crowd must have been sweeter and more memorable.
He did mention that maybe he will score in Sousse after scoring late at Orlando Stadium in the first leg to cancel Thamsanqa Gabuza’s ferocious strike.
The goal was welcomed by the Tunisians, especially having come three minutes after they lost their top marksman Baghdad Bounedjah to injury.
The Algerian, who had scored six of Sahel’s 19 goals in the tournament, was replaced by Brazilian forward Diogo Acosta.
It left the Buccaneers’ back four without a target man to deal with, but didn’t make things easier as that meant the outfit looked for different avenues to attack Ovono’s goals like Pirates did at the other end.
Having struggle to break down the solid Sahel defence, Sifiso Myeni came from the bench and almost made it a fairy-tale finish by recovering from what looked like a career threatening injury to score what would have been the most important goal of his career.
Myeni managed to curl his free-kick, with one minute to go, beyond the Sahel wall but Tunisia’s number one Aymen Mathlouthi pulled out a brilliant save to ensure that he lifts the trophy at the end of the match.
Pirates will return on Wednesday dejected after losing in their second continental final in two years.
The Bucs next face Mamelodi Sundowns in massive PSL encounter on Sunday, December 20. - The Star