For 14 years Peter Nikolakopoulos has been dedicated to providing young children a professional football (soccer) pathway.
Peter played professional football for most of his youth and adult life. He played for the National League and South Melbourne before being awarded a full athletic scholarship in 1992 to play for South Carolina College in the US.
It was in 2002 when Peter captained the winning team in the Hyundai World Cup Championships in Korea, that he considered how football would soon take over as a leading sport in Australia.
When Peter arrived home, he founded the Football Star Academy (FSA) and from coaching one child, it quickly grew to 50, then 100 and continued to grow.
Today, FSA boasts over 5000 girls and boys in weekly skill-based football programs dedicated to developing and nurturing Australia’s future football talent.
In 2012 Peter developed an umbrella academy called the Sports Star Academy (SSA) which includes tennis, golf, netball, footy, basketball, and more.
SSA is now a franchised business model with 60 operations across Australia’s east coast and plans for expansion into India and China this year.
Peter has personally mentored young football stars in becoming the best they can be and has provided them with a successful pathway that includes Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory youth academy programs, Ipswich Town FC, and Brugge FC.
Quick facts:
Peter purchased Soccer Time Kids in 2013, a preschool soccer-based program which complements FSA and is now part of the SSA.
FSA international tours and affiliation with overseas contacts and clubs unlocks opportunities for young talented players.
Peter is dedicated to providing young players the platform and opportunity to take their skills to the next level.
“Our point of difference is that we are a skills-based football program coached by qualified FFA-licenced coaches dedicated to maximising each child’s potential,” he says.