"I really try to forget about the hattrick" - Kiyan Nassiri eager to move past his exploits against East Bengal and write a new chapter
The date was January 29, 2022. The match clock struck the 61st minute. The harrowing silence of the empty PJN Stadium in Fatorda could cut right through the tension boiling up in the ATK Mohun Bagan dugout. A second-rate East Bengal side had managed to lead in the highly-anticipated Kolkata Derby.
Enter Kiyan Nassiri off the bench. In just 29 minutes, the 22-year-old ripped apart the Red and Gold Brigade, becoming the youngest hat trick scorer (64β, 90+2, 90+3β) in the Indian Super League (ISL) history.
Additionally, him being the son of East Bengal legend Jamshid Nassiri, the caper would forever become part of the Indian football folklore.
FULL-TIME | #ATKMBSCEB
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#HeroISL #LetsFootball #KolkataDerby | @atkmohunbaganfc @sc_eastbengal https://t.co/CuRlRL9tRJ
Some moments of magic end in defining the careers of many players. But as a footballer, the motivation is to always continue scripting such instances and not delve into the nostalgia eternally. Hence, Kiyan, although ready to acknowledge the gravity of his year-old exploit, is eager to write the next chapter in his career.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, the ATKMB starlet underlined:
"To be honest, I really try to forget about the hattrick [against East Bengal] because it's done. I want to go on to play more on the field. I know scoring a hattrick is an amazing thing to achieve but I want to be able to perform well and get the three points for my team everytime I play."
Given his increasing tally of accolades, Kiyan is steadily on his way to knitting a career that will be a juxtaposition of plenty of such marvelous episodes.
The youngster has already won his first ISL title in the recently-concluded season and finding his feet in a star-studded squad. Now, his sole focus is on earning regular game time and eventually breaking into the national squad.
Here are excerpts from Sportskeeda's conversation with ATK Mohun Bagan starlet Kiyan Nassiri about the Mariners' ISL 2022-23 title, the recently-concluded RF Development League and his ambitions:
Question: Kiyan, firstly congratulations on the win against RF Young Champs. Can you walk us through the third-place match in the RFDL? The scoreline (5-1) was pretty one-sided but how did the game feel while you were there in the middle?
Kiyan Nassiri: No, it was a tough game obviously. In the first half, we had little issues but we went back to the issues, looked at certain things, and the coach instructed us to play in a certain way.
In the second half, we needed the show up and the boys were more aggressive, then the result speaks for itself.
Q: Bengaluru have now gone on to win the RFDL and ATKMB just lost out to them on penalties in the semi-final. Does it feel a little bit more bitter now thinking your team couldβve been the one winning the title?
Kiyan: Yeah, it does. We watched the final and felt we deserved to be there. The boys played well throughout the semi-final but ultimately it was just unlucky in the penalties. We'll meet again in the NextGen Cup and I am looking forward to that match.
Q: Given your experience of playing in the ISL, the AFC Cup, and many other senior tournaments, you were one of the senior players in this Development squad. So what was your message to the players after joining them ahead of the semi-finals?
Kiyan: As someone who's playing in the senior team, it might be surprising but I don't speak that much. Neither do I speak much in the senior team as well. But I like to give small pointers here and there to the boys.
But nothing really especially because they know very well what they're doing and we have a coach who has been guiding us throughout!
Q: Kiyan, itβs difficult not to mention the ISL final and winning the title. If you could walk us through the emotions of that night and the entire journey?
Kiyan: Oh, that was just incredible! We had a tough start to the season. Everyone doesn't get to see everything behind the scene but it was very difficult.
Throughout the season we had many ups and downs but we stayed together. That's why I feel we did so well towards the end. The team fought a lot, especially towards the end.
Q: Now Mohun Bagan are one of the most star-studded teams in the ISL. For a youngster like you, itβs quite a task to secure a regular spot in that starting lineup. So how do you look at this challenge?
Kiyan: It's very difficult but I understand my role. At this point, I have to train every day and it's important to have a strong mentality and stay grounded. Whether I get a minute or 10 I am happy to help.
Q: Youβll be ending your season with the NextGen Cup that is set to kick off in a matter of days. So how do you look at this opportunity of rubbing shoulders with some of the finest youth talents across the globe?
Kiyan: I think it's a great opportunity, not just for me or our team, but for Indian football in general. A few years ago this wouldn't have happened and the Indian boys will get so much exposure from this. Probably five years down the line, we'll see players from these teams playing in the top five leagues in Europe.
As Indians, we have a tough time because we have youngsters playing in different clubs but chances to play in Europe are not very high. So this tournament gives us an opportunity to measure ourselves against these top talents.
Q: With another season of Indian football coming to a close, could you chart out for us what are immediate goals youβve set personally for the upcoming season and the near future?
Kiyan: My immediate goal is to break into the Indian national team as soon as I can. Everyone wants to play for their country and so do I. Another target would be to get more game time.
Q: Are you targeting to get into the national team before the AFC Asian Cup?
Kiyan: Of course, I would want to. I don't know who's watching the games but I will try to give everything on the pitch and whatever is supposed to happen will happen.