Manuel Abaunza is a retired Nicaraguan-American soccer inside right who played one season in the National Professional Soccer League. In 1960, Abaunza, the younger brother of Bayardo Abaunza, played for Vizcoya in Costa Rica. He moved to Los Angeles in 1961 where he joined the Los Angeles Kickers, an amateur team in the Greater Los Angeles League. In 1964, the Kickers won the 1964 National Challenge Cup over the Philadelphia Ukrainians. Abaunza scored in the first game, a 2-2 tie. The Kickers then won the return leg 2-0 to take the title. In 1965, he moved to Orange County Soccer Club of the Continental League. In 1966, Orange County lost in the final of the 1966 National Challenge Cup. On January 29, 1967, Abaunza signed with the Los Angeles Toros of the National Professional Soccer Leagu