Former Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Mensah has extolled his “friend and senior brother” Alhaji Hearts, describing him as a man who lived as a true hero.

Alhaji Hearts, known in private life as Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim died on Wednesday whilst on admission at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Mr. Mensah told 3news.com “what would be missed is one of the few people who encouraged people rather than destroy them”, a trait that made him a “true hero”.

Conceding that even though people are not spoken ill of when they die, for Alhaji Hearts, he underscored, many were the things he did which “proved that he was a man of integrity, a unifying man, a true leader”.

Mr Mensah recalled the role Alhaji Hearts played in what he termed “revolution days” to change the mindset of Ghanaians and whip up their interest in football in Ghana.

Herbert Mensah who is the President and Board Chairman of Ghana Rugby Union also recalled how Alhaji Hearts supported his 17 years campaign to raise awareness after the May 7 stadium disaster.

“He was unique, he was one of the few Ghanaians, and is still one of the few Ghanaians, who understands you can disagree, you can have a different opinion, a different strategy and yet you can still be friends, and that is result, even though he was a Phobian and I was with kotoko, he reached out,”, he remembered.

“I would be truly sad and I think Ghana has lost a true hero,” he said soberly.

Alhaji Hearts would be buried on Thursday in accordance with the Islamic tradition.