Nabilai Kibunguchy: Harambee Stars Defender Aims to Impress Benni McCarthy Through Singapore Form

Hougang United's Nabilai Kibunguchy is aiming to leverage his time in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) as a launchpad back into the Kenyan national team setup, Harambee Stars.

Born in the United States to Kenyan parents, the 28-year-old defender made a brief appearance for Kenya in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in November 2023; however, since Benni McCarthy took over, he has yet to receive a national team call-up.

That taste of international football has left him hungry for more, and he hopes his performances for Hougang will earn him another call-up to the Harambee Stars.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

"It’s always been my goal to represent Kenya. It’s my roots, where my parents are from," said Kibunguchy as quoted by the Straits Times.

"The pride of representing where you come from means a lot, so when I made that switch, I was very happy."

The towering 1.91m centre-back, who joined Hougang in August 2025, is the first African player in the SPL since Joel Tshibamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo played for Warriors FC in 2017.

Kibunguchy's football journey began in Sacramento, California, where he developed a passion for the sport watching English Premier League side Arsenal with his father.

His career progressed to the point where he was called up to the US Under-19 national team in 2016, training alongside future stars like Juventus' Weston McKennie and MLS veteran Brandon Vazquez.

"These players had already turned professional and experienced a lot at a high level at that time," he recalled. "After that camp, I really thought, ‘Yeah, I can go professional and work my way up the ranks’."

Before his move to Singapore, Kibunguchy played for the reserve side of MLS team Orlando City. He seized his first overseas opportunity after his Thai agent secured a deal with Hougang, viewing it as a chance for both personal and professional growth.

Despite initial culture shocks like using public transport for training and adapting to the tropical climate, Kibunguchy has settled well into life in Singapore. He is particularly enjoying his time under Hougang's Thai coach, Pannarai Pansiri.

"He puts in the work for us, whether it’s late nights in the office or early sessions, so we do the same for him. We all love playing for him," Kibunguchy said.

Crediting Pannarai for bringing "more structure" to the team, Kibunguchy is focused on their upcoming match against league leaders Lion City Sailors on January 24. He believes a disciplined, cohesive performance will be crucial for sixth-placed Hougang.

"We have to remain very strong and not let them get through us easily," he stated. "We need to remain as a solid defensive block, especially in the midfield, and make them play over us, not through us."

Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic, whose team boasts a perfect record of six wins from six matches, acknowledged the threat Hougang poses.

"They have quality players, and we need to be prepared to the maximum," he said. "We need to put in the same effort in every game that we play, and as usual, we want to get another three points."