Azkals U19's Ziggy Taningco: We can compete in Oman

MANILA, Philippines – For 17-year-old Ziggy Taningco, you can bet he is excited to be in Oman for the Asian Football Confederation Under-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

The matches will be played at the Al-Saada Sports Complex in Salalah, Oman, with the youthful nationals taking on the host nation at 12:45 a.m. early Thursday, September 15 (Manila time). 

While he has missed the Azkals Development Team’s matches in the ongoing Philippines Football League season, Taningco did make the cut for the tournament in Oman, which says something about his talent. 

Taningco, who plays right back, was also part of the U-19 squad that competed in the AFF Championship in Thailand and the AFC Asian Cup in Indonesia, both in 2019.

Now, he cannot wait to help his country once more in this tough competition in the desert.

“The AFC Qualifiers is an amazing opportunity for us as a team to prove ourselves and show what we are about,” said Taningco in a chat with this author from Oman. “Not to mention that doing well would be a big step in getting to the U20 World Cup. I believe in our team and am excited for the challenge.”

Taningco, who goes to the British School Manila, believes the Philippines can compete in their tough bracket.

“We are in a strong group facing Oman, Afghanistan, and Thailand. We are looking to compete right from the first game and I believe that we are more than capable of securing big points, especially building from our AFF campaign. Hopefully, we stay fit and safe from injuries.”

“The coaches have done an incredible job in coming up with a suitable plan for us,” was the only thing Taningco would reveal of their tactics. “From the physical therapists, coaches, staff, and admin, they have prepared us through tactical and recovery sessions.”

The head coach of the RP team is Christopher Pedimonte, with Tommy Escoltero, Anthony Albao and PFF Technical Director Stewart Hall working on the staff. Azkals star Stephan Schrock is also part of the staff.  

Of the 23 players in the lineup, 12 competed in the AFF U19 Championship held in Indonesia last July 2022 including midfielder Sandro Reyes, defender Jaime Rosquillo, and forward Andres Aldeguer.

Making the team in Oman aside from Taningco, Reyes, Rosquillo, and Aldeguer are goalkeepers Lance Bencio, Cesar Castro, and Christian Jed Lauron; defenders Ryan Kane Devine, John Dale Do, Martin Joshua Meriño, Shayden Alexander Sampow, Alexander Santos and David Kevin Setters; midfielders Karl Absalon, Kamil Amirul, Dov Anthony Cariño, Justin Lawrence Frias, Gavin Muens, Michael Johann Osorio, Jared Peña, Cyrelle James Saut and Syron Saut; and forward Ethan Mitchell Dacaret.