Jamshid Nassiri’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing since younger son Kiyan scored a hat-trick against SC East Bengal in the ISL VIII on Saturday.
“I took so many calls from friends and media that my phone conked off twice,” Jamshid told The Telegraph sitting at the Mohun Bagan/Calcutta Football Club ground on Sunday morning, enjoying every moment under the sun. He had parked himself at the ground because he did not want the mediaperons to invade his Park Street residence’s privacy. “What else can I do?” he said laughing.
Kiyan, who came off the bench in the 61st minute, did a headline-grabbing performance.
“It was his night. But Jamshid has no role in Kiyan’s ascent. He chartered his own path and never asked for any recommendation from his father. He is the master of his own destiny. Like every new generation youth, Kiyan is focused on his job and do not like to get distracted by unnecessary attention.
“Ever since Kiyan has gone to Goa, he has never called me unless he had some urgent work like giving boots to someone needy or keeping track of what’s happening back home. We never speak about football,” the proud father said.
Jamshid Nassiri (left) with son Kiyan, in a St James’ School shirt, after a Debanjan Cup inter-school football tournament match in 2015. File picture
The first glimpse of Kiyan’s talent was seen during the Debanjan Cup inter-school football tournament some seven years back. On a mud splattered St James’ ground, a diminutive player was dribbling past rivals with ease. On the sidelines, Jamshid was watching the proceedings with a keen eye.
Kiyan had moved to St James’ from St Xavier’s School since the former gave him better option to pursue his dream.
“He got enrolled in St James’ at the last moment. I saw him at the CC&FC ground and asked him if he would like to join our school. He said ‘speak to my father’. So I asked around and came to know he was Jamshid’s son. After a year Jamshid called and he got admission. He was was at St James’ for three years. Being a great footballer’s son, Kiyan had his feet firmly on the ground,” St James’ coach Nabarun Chattaraj said.
“He was superb during the years he played for St James’,” Debasish Sen, managing trustee of Debanjan Sen Foundation, said.
Kiyan had played for the Calcutta Football Club in the second division of Calcutta Football League for two seasons and trained under Monojit Das at the Kesoram Football Academy which used the Mohun Bagan/ CFC ground. Jamshid and Shyam Thapa were the technical advisers. He caught the eye of former India internationals playing for Mohun Bagan junior team in a football tournament organised by a television channel.
“He scored a goal similar to Saturday’s second strike. He played for Mohammedan Sporting too, in lien, for one match and scored. Then Mohun Bagan called him back. That tournament was the turning point in Kiyan’s career. Bidesh (Bose) and Manas (Bhattacharya) were very impressed by what they saw in young Kiyan and very soon he joined the Mohun Bagan senior team,” Jamshid said.
While son’s memorable match would definitely be Saturday’s game, for father the 1980 Federation Cup final remains as one of the best.
“We (Majid Beshkar, Mahmood Khabi and myself) had just joined East Bengal and the ambience at Eden Gardens was electric in the game against Mohun Bagan. Also the 1985 Fed Cup final against Mohun Bagan, which East Bengal won 1-0, thanks to my goal. There have been other memorable matches too,” he said.
Jamshid has a couple of regrets though. “First I never got to play for Mohun Bagan since those days foreign players were barred from signing for the club. Secondly, I wish Kiyan had scored the hat-trick at the Salt Lake Stadium in front of a full house,” he said.