Tendai Ndoro struck thrice as Orlando Pirates beat Golden Arrows 3-1 in their Absa Premiership opener in Soweto on Wednesday night.

The Zimbabwean striker registered the first hat-trick of the season to hand Muhsin Ertugral a winning start as Bucs coach while his compatriots and former teammates at Chicken Inn Kuda Mahachi and Danny Phiri started the season with a defeat. 

Phiri who joined Arrows from Chicken Inn in July was thrown in the starting eleven by Coach Clint Larsen but was unfortunate to begin his ABSA premiership life on the losing note.

Pirates threatened early on in the first half via their captain Oupa Manyisa and debutant Bernard Morrison, who fired narrowly over from range just before the interval.

Arrows looked dangerous on the counter through lively playmaker Kudakwashe Mahachi, while new signing Wayde Jooste rattled the side-netting after being put through on goal in the 35th minute.

Ndoro broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a simple finish after being teed up by Thabo Rakhale.

Sibiya responded 12 minutes later on the rebound after Mahachi hit the post following a fumble by Sea Robbers goalkeeper Felipe Ovono.

However, Ndoro hit back with a header off a Mpho Makola free-kick in the 67th minute before sealing the result with a curling shot following good combination play between Makola and Thabiso Kutumela.