Giri’s mother is Khasi, and his connection to Meghalaya is profound, having spent significant portions of his childhood here during summer breaks
By Abha Anindita
The Northeast is leading the sports scenario in India, making the country proud with a substantial number of national and international players.
Meghalaya, in particular, holds immense potential in the realm of sports, especially football. This sentiment is echoed by Kiyan Nassiri Giri, a promising footballer who now plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Chennaiyin FC and traces his roots back to Shillong.
Giri’s mother is Khasi, and his connection to Meghalaya is profound, having spent significant portions of his childhood here during summer breaks.
Kiyan came through the youth ranks, playing for the Bengal U-14 team and Mohammedan Sporting’s U-16 I-League squad. In 2017, he joined Calcutta Football Club and was the league’s top scorer, helping the team gain promotion. In 2019, Kiyan joined Mohun Bagan’s youth team and was promoted to the senior squad. He made his professional debut in 2020 and went on to become an important player for the club, now known as Mohun Bagan SG after a merger. Kiyan scored a hat-trick against East Bengal in the Kolkata derby in 2022, becoming the youngest player to do so in the Indian Super League. Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Kiyan signed with Chennaiyin FC.
“I kind off grew up like in both places but obviously I have spent most of my life in Kolkata,” Giri recalls. His passion for football was inherited from his father, although he admits it wasn’t an automatic inclination. “Football was through my father. I thought it would be quite interesting and quite fascinating to follow his footsteps.”
Giri’s father is well known and is former Iran national youth team player and East Bengal legend Jamshid Nassiri.
He grew up in Kolkata and was a student at St. James’ School, where he led the school team to victory in the Debanjan Cup Inter-school Tournament in 2015.
Despite spending the majority of his life in Kolkata, Giri has always been fascinated by the football culture in Shillong. “I know quite a few football players from here and have grown up with some from here, and they are indeed brilliant,” he said.
His father, a significant influence and his first coach, played a crucial role in shaping his football journey, although Giri emphasizes that the desire to play came from within him.
One of the highlights of Giri’s career is the Kolkata Derby, where he scored a hat-trick, a moment he cherishes deeply. “It was a special moment because it is a derby…to score not just one goal but three goals, it is an achievement,” he reflected.
Giri’s move to Chennai FC is a new chapter in his career. “It is to do better than my previous seasons and not just be stagnant,” he stated.
Winning the league shield was a standout moment for him, showcasing the dedication and effort required to excel in every match.
Kiyan had hoped to earn a call-up to the Indian national team, stating that playing in the Indian Super League is crucial for young players to get noticed by the national team selectors, however stating that his focus now has changed, he said, “I am just in a new club and I want to give my all for it, and just do my best, and then if the selectors do see the potential, maybe I will get a call.”
Focusing on his journey, Giri in an advice to aspiring footballers said, “Just focus on playing and not the other things involved and be careful of your surroundings.” He acknowledged the temptations and distractions that can derail a young player’s career and emphasized the importance of taking each training session as a lesson.
Discussing the broader landscape of Indian football, Giri pointed out the need for improved infrastructure and grassroots development. “Every state needs to put more money into not only football, but all forms of sports” he asserted, noting the potential in various sports that often goes untapped due to a lack of resources.
Reflecting on Meghalaya, Giri talked about the immense talent in the state but mentioned a hesitation among young players to pursue careers outside their comfort zones.
“There are a quite a lot of good players from the state…maybe it might do with the families or parents telling the kids to go out or not,” he guessed.. The cultural significance of family in Meghalaya often leads to a reluctance to leave home, which can limit the potential of young athletes.
Despite these challenges, Giri is optimistic about the future. He admiring players like Ricky Shabong and Eugenson Lyngdoh who have made their mark in professional football, said, “Things are improving now, as people have started seeing this beyond just being a hobby, and as a profession.”
“I genuinely have immense love for the state, and boys who come from the state because I want to see more players from the northeast, and Shillong especially,” he says, underscoring his interest in seeing the region thrive.