IT STARTED with a football fan's simple dream - to sing an ode to the beautiful game.

Cheng Ding An, local filmmaker and self-confessed football aficionado, has finished filming the movie Kallang Roar, about the national sport in its glorious heyday.

But now, the film is plagued with distribution issues and other woes, which include post-production budgeting issues.

According to him, Golden Village (GV) initially agreed to screen his film, but pulled out just before they were due to sign the agreement in March. GV was unable to comment by press time.

Cheng, 26, wants the movie to debut on National Day this year. His company, Merelion Pictures Pte Ltd, has now approached Cathay Keris Films and Shaw Cinemas to distribute the film. He is expecting an answer, when the relevant people return from their trip to the Cannes Film Festival, in two weeks' time.

As a contingency plan, his producer, Tay Hoo Wee, 28, intends to approach a Hong Kong distributor, but "only as a last resort" as it will cost more and yield lower returns, he says.

Formerly a freelance videographer and assistant at a local production house, Cheng quit his day job to go into film-making full-time. Kallang Roar, three years in themaking, is currently in the editing stages, and is his first feature film.

"I would like to see the movie run in cinemas," he said, adding that he wants it to have a mass audience.

Kallang Roar focuses on the events that led up to the Singapore Lions' victory in theMalaysia Cup in 1977.

Then, under the charge of acclaimed coach Choo Seng Quee, the Singapore Lions were able to triumph after a 12-year losing streak.

Choo, who suffered from diabetes, died in 1983. Kallang Roar is a tribute to him. He is played by actor Lim Kay Siu in Cheng's film.

Distribution problems aren't the only challenge Kallang Roar is enduring.

Cheng is also still looking for sponsors to absorb part of the post-production costs as he had failed to get a grant from the Singapore Film Commission.

Though the film, which cost more than $1 million to make, is partially backed by a private investor, Cheng was hoping to fund the rest via a grant or a sponsor.

The movie is now over budget and Cheng is using his savings to make up the difference - which is also why it is critical for him to get the film out to paying movie-goers.

Luckily, fans are excited. Singapore Lions fan, Mr Lim Liat Choy, 43, says he cannot wait to see Leon Quah, son of famed winger Quah Kim Song, play out his father's moves on the silver screen.

"I was only 12 in 1977 and my brothers were allowed to go to the stadium to watch the semi-finals, but I wasn't," says Mr Lim regretfully.