Ben Cabango | Academy product to Swansea City captain

A quick look through Ben Cabango’s record with Swansea City tells you that it was all-but inevitable he would become the club’s captain at some point in his career.

Despite still being only 24, Cabango boasts 212 senior appearances, 12 Wales caps and has long played with a maturity that has belied his relatively young age.

He becomes the first Welshman to be named club captain since a certain Ashley Williams, who Cabango of course shares a position with as a centre-half.

An academy product who first joined the Swans at the age of 14, Cabango has skippered the Swans at every level he has played at. That includes the first team, having been handed the armband for a Carabao Cup tie at Oxford in August 2022.

Those are a range of impressive facts and figures, but Luke Williams’ decision to hand Cabango the captaincy runs far deeper, and is underlined by the impression the player has left on every head coach he has worked under.

Along the way, as each of them has placed different demands and requirements on the players at their disposal, so Cabango has listened, learned, responded and improved to the point you would find few who would disagree with the assessment that he is one of the most well-rounded centre-halves in the Championship.

His importance to the Swans with and without the ball is not in doubt. Just take this season alone.

No Swansea player has a better pass completion rate than Cabango, an important factor in a possession-based team who build play from the back. Only 13 players in the entire Championship can boast a better success rate.

He ranks second for the Swans when it comes to the distance made by progressive forward passes by outfield players, in the Championship he sits fourth.

He tops the charts for tackles and interceptions in the Swansea squad, he ranks second for successful tackles, and fourth for blocks.

But, as we say, look beyond the numbers and the words of those Cabango has played under just emphasise his influence.

Steve Cooper, who gave Cabango his debut as a 19-year-old back in 2019, said at the end of the defender's maiden season at first-team level: “We think Ben is a player with high potential.

“When we took him to our pre-season camp we felt he could really develop as part of the first-team squad and he has done.

“That gave us even more confidence in him and it was just a matter of time before he got his opportunity.

“Even before he played these games, I said we really believe in him and that’s he’s a player for the future.

"He is a bit of a throwback in some ways, he is fully committed to the cause, he has played through the pain barrier and has been a real credit to himself."

Wind forward five-and-a-half years and there are echoes of those sentiments when Luke Williams often uses the word "warrior" to describe his now skipper.

“I see him as somebody who is prepared to do whatever it takes for the team, to put his body on the line, to try and make one more action in the build up and be brave," said the Swans boss.

“He has all the leadership qualities, he tries to motivate people, he’ll give people a ticking off at the right time, and encourage those around him when they need that encouragement. 

“The things I see make me believe he fits the mould really well."

Long a popular figure in the squad, anyone who has been fortunate enough to stand pitchside at a training session or at a behind-closed-doors friendly will be able to attest that Cabango – while often quiet off the pitch – is a vocal presence on it.

In an interview with the matchday programme earlier this season, the player himself spoke of the importance of good communication, and also it’s importance in keeping him focused; a trait he shares with Ashley Williams who spoke of how being a vocal and always involved in the action meant his mind did not wander during games.

“Communication is a big part of things, for me. I feel like it helps me in training and in games, and I feel like that helps the players around me as well,” said Cabango, whose father Paulo was born in Angola before moving to Wales in 1997, and whose brother Theo plays rugby for Cardiff.

“I find it keeps me focused and, if there are times where I am quiet and I am not talking, then it can be easy to lose concentration.

“So talking is a big part of my game, and I think being a good communicator is important when it comes to leadership, but I know that’s something I can still get a lot better at.

“When things are difficult, I have to make sure I am having that input and stepping up. I feel I am better at that now than I was earlier in my career, but there’s still more I can do.”

While Cabango’s initial football experiences were with Maindy and Newport County, there’s no denying the passion he feels when it comes to representing Swansea City.

Anyone looking back at his pair of goals at Cardiff City Stadium in the back-to-back derby doubles will see a man momentarily lost amidst the bedlam of jubilation and euphoria, almost not knowing what to do with himself as he rushes to share those moments with the Jack Army in the away end.

Those goals and victories had already ensured Cabango’s name will always carry a special resonance to Swansea City supporters.

Adding his name to the illustrious list of names to have led this great club in its 113-year history to date will surely only strengthen that bond.