Committed to Achievement Peter Nikolakopoulos

Committed to Achievement

– Peter Nikolakopoulos

Peter Nikolakopoulos – entrepreneur, former soccer player, and Porsche owner – is inspiring young people to pursue their own paths. His company, The AllStars Academy (TAA), is dedicated to fostering Australian children’s sporting and life skills across multiple areas.

‘At TAA, children learn to grow into good citizens and develop into good human beings,’ Peter says. ‘We’ve already made a difference to the lives of over a million kids, teaching them sporting skills along with important life skills such as resilience, leadership, and teamwork. I want this to be my legacy.’

Children enrolled at The AllStars Academy have the option of playing football (soccer), AFL footy, athletics, basketball, tennis, or cricket – all coached by a team of qualified professional coaches rather than amateurs and volunteer parents.

In its emphasis on professionalism and resilience, TAA is designed to help kids thrive in difficult times. ‘The 21st century has placed demands on our children like never before,’ Peter points out. ‘Our kids improve their focus, self-control, and self-esteem while learning how to counter stress and anxiety, which helps them develop into positive human beings.’

Moving far beyond sport, the AllStars Academy will soon launch five other divisions, each created to broaden children’s skill set:

• Wellbeing – Encompassing yoga, meditation and mindfulness programs.

• Arts – Fostering a love of singing, dancing and acting, while teaching creative thinking, communication and confidence.

• Gaming – Encouraging positive eSports and sparking creativity, while promoting problem-solving.

• Education and entrepreneurship – Providing individualised learning experiences to children who struggle to find their place in education.

• STEM – Promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics through coding and robotics.

The project is a natural fit for Peter. ‘I’ve always had a love of sport, as well as an interest in business,’ he explains. ‘I’ve grown many successful businesses over the years – first in hospitality, then in entertainment.

‘My passion to better prepare kids for adult society has inspired me to develop the business in other sectors,’ he continues. ‘Even though under 1% of people become professionals, many valuable life skills emerge through sports training.’ g

Peter grew up in Australia playing football at the highest level. ‘When I was younger, I was a member of the five-a-side Australian team,’ he remembers. ‘Prior to that, I played for South Melbourne. After getting a full scholarship at the University of South Carolina, I graduated, returned, and played soccer for the Oakleigh Cannons and Port Melbourne Sharks in the Premier League.

‘Shortly after winning the Hyundai Football World Championship in Korea 20 years ago, a relative asked if I could help a friend’s son with his football coaching. When we got amazing results, I started coaching a few others … and the business grew from there.’

Playing sport from a young age has attuned Peter to children’s needs. ‘Reflecting on my own sporting journey as I got older, I decided to develop opportunities for kids,’ he reflects. ‘I saw a gap in the market regarding professionals who wanted to coach children, a task requiring a high level of expertise and patience. By bringing a professional level of coaching to young people, we’re setting them up for success.’ The Academy also makes things easier for parents. ‘With our programs running locally, we’re giving parents time back in their lives,’ notes Peter. ‘It’s a nightmare constantly running kids around for sport in Sydney and Melbourne, so we’ve gone a long way to solving this problem by offering everything locally to schools and delivered by the one organisation. The kids may be doing soccer, tennis, and basketball within the same week, for example, instead of having to go to a bunch of different locations.’

The entire system is scalable and efficient. ‘We’re a franchise-based business model, with passionate partners who work in their own fields,’ Peter explains. ‘We provide the brand, systems and training, and they run the business in their local community or territory.

Outside the Academy, Peter enjoys time with his family – and in this area, his taste in cars has an unexpected bonus. ‘I love my cars, especially Porsches,’ he says. ‘As I have a nine-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, buying an electric Taycan has been great for teaching them about sustainability. I feel I’m contributing and making a difference in that way.’

Even with his substantial business commitments, sport remains a huge part of Peter’s life. ‘I still love playing seven-a-side football, tennis and golf,’ he says. ‘Outside of sport, catching up with friends is important to me. We socialise a lot, so we’re always out for dinners and drinks with family and friends.’

By using his sporting and business skills to improve the lives of so many Australians, Peter has achieved a goal worthy of significant acclaim.

To find out more about the Academy, visit www.taabrands.com •